•  Ifcv 

1 9198 


UC-NRLF 


E   A; 


AM) 


Til  TEA  TSADI 


jfirat 


PARTS  FIRST,  SECOND  AND  THIRD. 


lit  ituifs  3&mjrirafef 


JAM   ARY,  FEBRUARY    A\D    MA 


WITH  A  POSTSCRIPT. 


BY   GIDEON    NYE,.JR.,   OF    CAMTON 


!     Third  1  (Jit ion  of  Farts  1  and  2,—WitH  a  Preface  and  a  Jfargiiial  Index 


NKW YORK: 
PRINTED  BY  GEO.  W.  WOOD,   15  SPRUCE-STREET, 


^  This  being  the  First  Edition  of  PART  THIRD  a  referenc     to  ".tents  has  been  accidently  omitted  upon  ti 

following  TITLE   £ _ 


TEA: 


AND 


THE   TEA  TRADE. 


FIRST  PUBLISHED  IN  HUNT'S  MERCHANTS'  MAGAZINE, 

JANUARY  AND  FEBRUARY,  1850. 


Comprising  a  General  View  of  the  Progress  of  its  Use,  and  of  the  Reciprocal  Benefits  derived  there- 
from, with  Remarks  upon  the  existing  impediments  to  the  more  rapid  increase  of  its 
consumption  in  Great  Britain  and  in  this   Country  :  accompanied  by  directions 
for  its  preparation  as  a  beverage ;   and  by  suggestions  of  the  moral  and 
economical  results  derivable  from  its  more  extended  use  in  this 
Country. 


TO    WHICH    IS    ADDED  I 

A  Sketch  of  the  History  of  the  Trade  ;  and  a  View  of  its  Statistical  Progress  and  Present  Position 

in  Great  Bri  tain  and  this  Country, — accompanied  by  remarks  upon  the  results  thus  shown, 

as  suggestive  of  the  want  of  a  greater  uniformity  in  prices. 


WITH  A  POSTSCRIPT. 


BY    GIDEON   NYE,   JR.,   OF   CANTON. 


THIRD  EDITION. 

WITH   A  PREFACE   AND   A   MARGINAL   INDEX. 


NEW    YORK: 

PRINTED  BY  GEO.  W.  WOOD,  15  SPRUCE-STREET. 
1850. 


/f>7 


• 


PREFACE  TO  SECOND  EDITION. 


THE  general  acceptance  which  these  Papers  met  with  when  published  in  the 
Merchants'  Magazine,  and  the  want  of  additional  copies,  induced  their  re-publi- 
cation in  pamphlet  form.  That  edition  is  exhausted,  and  there  is  a  demand  for 
a  Second  one,  which  is  now  answered,  with  some  improvements  in  the  form, 
but  without  any  change  in  the  matter : — The  marginal  index  will  assist  the 
reader ;  and  the  different  type  will,  also,  be  considered  an  improvement :  The 
Postscript  will  now  be  found  in  its  right  place,  also. 

The  promised  Third  Paper  for  the  Merchants'  Magazine  is  in  course  of  pre- 
paration. In  the  meantime,  the  writer  may,  perhaps,  be  permitted  to  remark, 
in  reference  to  that  part  of  these  papers  which  treats  of  the  question  of  supply 
and  prices,  that  the  course  of  events  and  of  the  markets  in  China,  as  well  as  in 
England  and  this  country,  has  sustained  the  opinions  he  had  offered,  in  a  re- 
markable degree,  considering  the  unusual  early  in-coming  of  the  crops  this  year ; 
and  that,  so  far  as  this  unusual  cause  affects  the  position  of  the  market  here,  it 
indicates  clearly,  as  the  sole  necessity  to  ensure  stability  or  improvement,  a  more 
gradual  offering  of  the  cargoes  which  have  arrived,  in  anticipation  of  the  season 
of  the  greatest  demand,  since  it  is  apparent  that  the  imports  before  October  next 
must  fall  short  of  the  wants  of  the  country. 

March  18th,  1850. 


JVJ18078U 


TEA: 

AND  THE  TEA  TRADE 

FROM  HUNT'S  MERCHANTS'  MAGAZINE. 


WHETHER  regarded  as  a  necessary  of  life,  or  as  forming  an  element  in  the  Introduction, 
amelioration  of  the  intercourse  of  nations,  the  article  of  Tea  takes  the  first          v 
rank  in  the  history  of  Commerce. 

The  production  of  one  country,  its  use  has  spread  over  almost  every  other     Growth  and 

*•  „  ,,  .       beneficial     in- 

civmzed  one,  until  its  name  has  become  a  synonyme  ot  the  ancient  empire  nuences  of  this 
where  it  grows,  and  suggests  to  the  mind,  not  so  much  the  healthful  proper- 
ties of  a  simple  shrub,  as  the  history  of  the  intercourse  with  China,  and  of 
China  itself. 

No  other  production  of  the  soil  has,  in  an  equal  degree,  stimulated  the  in- 
tercourse of  the  most  distant  portions  of  the  globe  ;  nor  has  any  other  beve- 
rage, with  equally  unalloyed  benefit,  so  commended  itself  to  the  palates  of 
the  people  of  the  more  civilized  nations,  or  become  so  much  a  source  of  com- 
fort, and  a  means  of  temperance,  healthfulness,  and  cheerfulness  ;  whilst  it 
may  be  doubted  if  any  other  is  equally  a  restorative  and  stimulative  of  the 
intellectual  faculties  of  man. 

The  incentive  to  the  industry  of  many  millions  in  China,  it  is  the  direct 
source  of  an  immense  revenue  to  the  British  exchequer,*  and  of  much  pros- 
perity to  the  manufacturing  and  commercial  interests  of  the  British  empire,  - 
and  other  nations ;  and  whilst  its  agreeable  and  healthful  properties  have 
diffused  comfort  and  cheerfulness  and  promoted  temperance  amongst  the 
households  of  the  western  nations,  these,  reciprocally,  have  contributed  to 
the  moral  influences  of  this  interchange  of  commerce  upon  the  millions  of 
the  populous  and  farthest  East. 


*  The  duty  upon  tea  imported  into  Great  Britain  has  reached  the  almost  incredible 
sum  of  £5,400,000  sterling,  or  about  $25,000,000  per  annum. 


,3      '•,•'';;,.'  TEA:    AND    THE    TEA   TRADE. 

_yv x      But,  in  tracing  the  progress  of  its  use,  and  estimating  the  mutual  benefits 

0  ^traffic  hi  tjiat  -t  ^  conferred,  the  satisfaction  that  is  derived  therefrom  is  not  wholly  un- 
it"9 rosCeritv°  alloyed — for,  whilst  it  forms  on  one  side  the  healthful  element  of  a  reciprocal 
?inrVuon^>ann"  commerce>  we  $&&  ^iat  ^  ^as  become,  (at  a  recent  period,  and  mainly  in- 
tercourse,       directly,  it  is  true,)  in  some  degree,  the  interchange  of  an  article  of  com- 
merce — opium — whose  effects  are  widely  injurious,  thus  presenting,  to  the 
western  nations,  the  humiliating  contrast,  of  the  gift  of  what  is  fraught  with 
the  worst  of  evils,  with  that  from  which  flows  unmixed  good. 

Until  the  taste  for  this  pernicious  drug  had  spread  insidiously  over  the 
empire,  and  the  traffic  in  it  had  largely  increased,  China  was  the  recipient  of 
the  precious  metals  from  the  western  nations,  in  the  adjustment  of  the  bal- 
ance of  trade  in  her  favor  ;  but  since  the  expiration  of  the  East  India  Com- 
pany's charter,  (1834,)  the  consumption  of  it  has  so  largely  augmented* 
that,  although  the  exports  of  Chinese  produce  have  also  greatly  increased, 
yet  the  export  of  the  precious  metals,  in  adjustment  of  the  balance  adverse 
to  China,  has  reached  the  annual  sum  of  about  $10,000,000  ;  thus  inflict- 
ing upon  China  a  two-fold  injury,  in  the  demoralization  of  her  people,  and 
the  undermining  of  her  pecuniary  resources — whose  effects  are  of  the  most 
grave  moment,  as  threatening  the  very  integrity  of  the  empire. 

As  one  of  the  impediments  in  the  way  of  the  prosperity  of  the  tea  trade, 
the  consideration  of  the  influences  of  this  immense  traffic  is  in  no  wise  a  di- 
gression ;  nor  can  we,  consistently,  content  ourselves  with  merely  an  inci- 
dental allusion  to  it,  although  it  is  no  part  of  our  purpose  to  discuss  the 
moral  question,  for  we  find  it  greatly  prejudicial  to  the  whole  legal  trade 
with  China.f 


*  The  rapid  growth  and  great  amount  of  the  opium  trade  is  shown  by  the  following 
figures  and  dates : — In  the  year  1767,  the  import  of  opium  had  reached  but  1,000 
chests;  in  1816,  it  was  about  3,200  chests;  in  1826,  about  9,900  chests;  in  1836, about 
26,000  chests ;  in  1845,  about  40,000  chests;  in  1848,  considerably  more.  The  net 
revenue  to  the  British  Indian  government  had,  in  1845-6,  already  reached  the  large 
Bum  of  £4,766,536  sterling,  or  about  $23,000,000! 

f  A  letter  of  August  last,  from  a  house  at  Shanghae,  speaks  directly  to  the  point, 
as  quoted  below ;  as  does  the  following  evidence  of  George  Moffat,  Esq.,  M.  P.,  before 
the  Select  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons : — "  The  value  of  opium  imported  in- 
to China  from  India  is  very  little  short,  I  believe,  in  the  last  year,  (for  which  there  is 
no  official  return,)  of  £5,000,000  sterling;  for  the  year  1844,  for  which  there  is  a  re- 
turn, the  value  was  £4,800,000  sterling,  making  the  balance  of  trade  very  much 
against  the  Chinese ;  hence  they  demand  and  obtain  a  very  high  price  for  their  tea, 
•which  the  importers  into  China  of  English  produce  are  compelled  to  take  in  payment." 

EXTRACT  FROM  A  LETTER  OF  AUGUST  LAST,  FROM  A  HOUSE  AT  SHANGHAE. 

"  We  do  not  know  if  the  same  cause  operates  quite  as  much  here  as  at  Canton ;  but 
think  there  is  much  truth  in  an  article  in  the  '  Register,'  (newspaper,)  attributing  the 
small  demand  for  European  (foreign)  manufactures  to  the  quantity  of  drug  placed 
against  produce.  We  expected  here,  for  instance,  a  revival  of  demand,  when  produce 
came  freely  to  market,  but  were  disappointed,  and  attributed  it  at  the  time  mostly  to 


TEA: AND   THE   TEA   TRADE. 


It  seriously  disturbs  the  financial  affairs  of  the  country,  thus  impairing 
confidence,  and  directly  depressing  the  prices  of  all  other  articles  of  import- 
ation, whilst,  at  the  same  time,  raising  those  of  export  articles. 

These  are  the  direct  commercial  evils,  irrespective  of  the  disturbing  politi- 
cal questions  that  it  involves. 

The  legalization  of  the  trade  in  the  drug  would,  no  doubt,  tend  to  lessen  theTt>  .  J 
its  price,  and  work  some  amelioration  of  these  commercial  evils  ;  nor  is  it  tionof 
improbable  that  the  sum  of  its  deleterious  effects,  morally  and  physically, 
upon  the  consumers  of  it,  may  be  lessened,  by  thus  robbing  it  of  the  fasci- 
nation of  a  forbidden  and  expensive  luxury. 


(THE  TEA  TRADE  WITH  ENGLAND.) 

The  greatest  and  most  direct  discouragement  and  impediment  of  the  tea 

.  The  greatest 

trade,  and  one  involving  a  greater  wrong  to  China,  considered  in  a  commer-  check  to  its  ex- 

.   .  .         ,  ,  ,  .     »         ,       ,  .,  tension,  and  a 

cial  sense  alone,  remains,  however,  to  be  noticed ;  and  is  round,  where  those  great  wrong  to 

Oh  111  a     *"     *v>rt 

who  confided  in  Sir  Robert  Peel's  enunciation  of  the  free  trade  policy,  made  duty  V 
about  four  years  ago,  would  not  expect  at  this  day  to  find  it, — in  the  British  ln 
Tariff  of  duties.     Nor  would  one  who,  with  a  regard  to  international  jus- 
tice and  the  comity  of  nations,  should  refer  to  the  existing  treaties  between 
the  two  powers,  credit  the  existence  in  British  law  of  such  a  "  gross  injustice 
to  China,"*  as  is  involved  in  the  unparalleled  and  oppressive  tax  exacted 
upon  the  importation  of  tea  into  England. 

The  enormous  sum  of  the  duty  annually  collected  upon  the  importation 
of  tea  has  already  been  stated  ;f  and  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  injustice 
to  China,  in  thus  taxing  her  great  staple,  is  shown  by  a  comparison  of  the 
tariffs  of  duties  of  the  two  countries,  that  of  England  exacting  a  duty  of 
2s.  2|d.  per  pound  on  tea,  which  exceeds  250  per  cent  upon  the  cost  of  it, 
whilst  that  of  China  imposes  an  average  duty  of  only  5  to  7  per  cent  upon 

this  cause.  The  country  cannot  take  both  goods  and  drug  ;  and  thus  the  question  is, 
so  far  as  England  is  concerned,  which  branch  of  industry  should  be  encouraged  ? 

"  The  East  India  Company  will  never  give  up  the  drug ;  and  probably  the  govern- 
ment would  not,  should  the  Company's  charter  not  be  renewed  in  1854.  It  appears 
to  us  the  difficulty  must  increase  with  the  increasing  quantity  of  the  luxury  imported." 

*  The  expression  used  by  Sir  George  Larpent,  Bart.,  before  the  Select  Committee 
of  the  House  of  Commons,  in  1847. 

f  It  is  now  £5,400,000  sterling,  per  annum ;  and  were  not  the  real  necessities  of  the 
treasury  known,  it  would  seem  that  the  remarkable  capability  of  expansion  which  has' 
characterized  this  source  of  revenue,  served  but  to  increase  the  greediness  of  a  minis- 
ter careless  of  the  consequences  to  the  comforts  of  the  people,  or  the  trade  of  the 
country,  for  the  writer  remembers  that  when  the  question  of  the  reduction  of  the  duty 
was  agitated  some  years  ago,  the  minister  professed  himself  satisfied  with  what  he 
then  got  from  tea,  but  unwilling  to  part  with  any  of  that,  which  was  but  £3,800,000, 
or  about  $8,000,000  less  than  now ! 


TEA:    AND    THE    TEA   TRADE. 


British  goods  !  Nor  does  the  rate  of  duty  represent  the  amount  of  the  im- 
position, or  of  the  enhancement  of  the  cost  to  the  consumers,  for  the  reason 
that  the  duty  forms  so  large  a  part  of  the  cost,  that  the  interest  upon  the 
money  required  to  conduct  the  business  is  a  large  per  centage  upon  the  first 
cost,  and  that  the  consequent  necessity  for  a  large  capital  enables  a  few 
wealthy  houses  to  retain  a  virtual  monopoly  of  the  business,  after  it  passes 
from  the  hands  of  the  importers,  thus  depriving  the  consumers  of  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  competition  which,  in  most  other  articles  of  importation, 
tends  to  moderate  the  prices. 

The  injurious      And,  as  between  the  British  government  and  the  mass  of  the  consumers, 
taxrkupon*  the  there  is  also  involved,  in  the  practical  working  of  this  law,  a  grievous  injus- 


i  wrong  tice,  which,  as  tending  directly  to  lessen  the  consumption  of  the  leaf,  demands 
o*f0pe!>  notice  in  this  article.  The  duty,  it  will  be  observed,  is  a  fixed  one,  (of  2s. 
2£d.  sterling  per  pound,)  upon  all  classes  of  tea  alike,  so  that  the  consumers 
whose  means  do  not  admit  of  their  using  the  higher-cost  classes,  (but  whose 
comfort,  health  and  temperance  depend  in  the  greatest  degree  upon  the  use 
of  tea,*)  are  compelled  to  pay  the  government  a  tax  of  200  or  400  per 
cent,  in  the  form  of  duty,  whilst  the  wealthy  consumers  pay  but  50  to  100 
per  cent  on  the  qualities  used  by  them.  The  effect  of  this  inequality  in  the 
levying  of  the  tax,  seeing  that  it  acts  upon  that  class  of  the  population  with 
whom  the  question  of  price  is  the  most  important  one,  in  seriously  checking 
the  consumption,  will  be  obvious. 

Indirectly,  also,  this  exorbitant  duty  has  done  great  harm  to  the  trade  by 
engendering  speculations,  based  upon  the  expectation  of  its  reduction,  at 
different  times  ;  and  it  is  thus  that  it  has  been  a  fruitful  source  of  the  vicis- 
situdes which  have  marked  its  course,  the  past  six  years  especially. 
The  change  In  respect  to  the  whole  question  of  this  excessive  duty,  it  may  be  said 
that  a  radical  reduction  of  it  to  about  one  shilling  per  pound,  would  satis- 
factorily adjust  it,  even  though  its  fixed  and  uniform  character  were  retained, 
for  so  moderate  a  uniform  tax  would  tend  to  a  greater  assimilation  of  the 
qualities  of  the  tea  imported,  and  the  inequality  of  it  to  the  consumers 
would,  therefore,  scarcely  form  a  matter  of  complaint. 

The  necessity      The  necessity  of  a  measure  of  this  nature,  to  relieve  the  trade  from  its 
°dec£red  bj?6  present  depressed  state,  is  forcibly  and  conclusively  shown  in  the  following 
ofethemHouse  extracts  from  the  report  of  the  Select  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons, 
infi847mmo"s'  (1847,)  and  in  the  extract  from  the  circular  of  a  highly  respectable  tea-bro- 
kerage house  in  England,  of  a  recent  date,  also  annexed  hereto. 

The  following  are  the  extracts  from  the  report  of  the  Select  Committee, 
as  above  alluded  to : — 

"  We  must  look  to  tea  mainly,  and  to  an  increased  consumption  of  tea,  for 
the  means  of  maintaining,  still  more  of  extending,  a  profitable  trade  with  those 
vast  regions. 

*  Vide  subsequent  copies  of  papers  of  Mr.  Norton,  page  17. 


TEA:    AND    THE    TEA    TRADE. 


"  For  such  an  extended  consumption,  unless  we  are  content  to  wait  for  the  f A. — ^ 

slow  progress  of -an  increase  dependant  solely  on  the  increasing  numbers  of  our 
population,  we  can  only  look  to  some  considerable  reduction  of  the  price  ;  and 
for  such  reduction,  now  that  competition,  since  the  abolition  of  the  monopoly  of 
the  East  India  Company,  has  had  its  full  effect,  and  that  new  sources  of  supply 
have  for  some  time  been  opened,  we  can  only  look  to  a  reduction  of  the  duty. 
On  a  first  cost,  ranging  on  the  qualities  in  most  general  demand,  from  8d.  to  10d., 
in  the  ports  of  China,  if  any  reduction  can  be  effected,  it  might  be  of  advantage 
to  the  merchant,  but  would  have  no  important  effect  upon  the  selling  prices  in 
England.  It  is  only  through  the  duty,  a  duty  on  the  average  qualities  of  about 
200  per  cent,  and  on  the  worst  qualities  of  above  350  per  cent,  that  any  such 
reduction  to  the  consumer  can  be  effected,  as  to  stimulate  consumption  in  any 
sensible  degree  ;  and  such  a  reduction  thus  becomes  essential  to  a  healthy  and 
an  extended  trade. 

"  That  it  is  desirable  in  itself,  as  promoting  the  increased  consumption  of  a 
beverage  wholesome  and  agreeable  to  every  class  of  our  population,  and  one 
which  is  increasingly  desired  as  a  substitute  for  intoxicating  liquors ;  and  that  it 
would  be  no  more  than  is  due  to  the  Chinese,  who  tax  our  products  so  lightly, 
while  we  burthen  theirs  so  heavily,  and  with  such  inconvenience  to  their  trade, 
your  Committee  conceive  to  be  equally  clear.  In  fact,  the  sole  difficulty  exists 
in  the  effect  which  any  material  reduction,  and  none  other  would  be  of  much 
value,  may  be  expected  to  have  upon  the  resources  of  the  exchequer." 

Extract  from  Messrs.  Brodribb  and  Coates'  Tea  Circular,  of  August  22(1, 
1849:— 
"  The  stock  here,  as  also  in  the  United  Kingdom,  is  much  smaller  than  at  the        And  fully 

•    j  i      /  .11        /.iii         1.1          .          i  shown  by  the 

same  period  last  year,  especially  of  black,  while  prices  do  not  range  higher.  The    retrogressive 
demand  has  kept  pace  with  that  of  last  year,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  annexed  ta-  ° 

ble.  This  anomaly  cannot  be  accounted  for  on  the  ordinary  principles  of  de- 
mand and  supply,  but  must  be  attributed  to  other  causes.  By  a  return  brought 
by  the  last  mail  of  the  "  British  Trade  in  China,"  it  appears  that  the  value  of  tea 
exported  in  1847  was  £2,849,577,  while  in  1848  it  was  only  £1,909,900.  We 
cannot  put  the  position  of  the  trade  in  a  truer  light  than  by  placing  opposite  to 
these  sums  the  amount  of  duty  paid  on  tea  in  each  of  these  years ;  they  are  as 
follows : 


1847. 
1848. 


Value  of  tea 
exported  from 
China, 
£2,849,577 
1,909,900 

Amount  of 
duty  paid  on 
tea  in  the 
United  Kingdom. 
£5,067,042 
5,330,537 

England. 
£3,859,720 
4,075,777 

Scotland. 
£494,847 
520,453 

Ireland. 

£712,475 
734,307 

This  is,  we  believe,  the  real  cause  of  the  depressed  state  of  the  tea  trade.  How 
is  it  possible,  under  such  a  load  of  taxation,  that  the  .trade  can  expand  ?  How 
is  it  possible,  while  such  an  amount  of  additional  capital  is  required  to  put  the 
tea  into  circulation  for  consumption,  that  first-hand  buyers  should  be  otherwise 
than  very  limited  in  number — that  importers  should,  in  consequence,  be  depend- 
ant for  the  ready  sale  of  their  cargoes  upon  only  a  very  few  large  first-class 
houses — that  with  even  these  houses  their  first  care  should  be  to  provide  means 
to  meet  the  imperative  demands  for  duty — that  under  such  circumstances  the  free 
competition,  which  would  otherwise  insure  to  the  merchant  the  highest  value  for 
his  produce,  is  not  only  destroyed,  but  the  purchasing  of  tea  from  first  hands 
2 


10  TEA:      AND      THE      TEA      TRADE. 


f -* ^  converted  into  a  virtual  monopoly  ?  The  reimbursement  of  the  merchant's  cap- 
ital, by  payment  for  his  teas  is  from  this  cause  made  secondary  to  and  in  some 
measure  dependant  upon  the  ability  of  first  advancing  money  for  the  duty." 

Delay  of  this      it  will  be  observed  that  the  expediency,  nay,  the  necessity,  of  the  material 

change  produ-  .  J ' 

ced  by  unfor-  reduction  of  the  duty  is  unreservedly  declared  by  the  committee ;  and  it  is 
known  that  the  sole  reasons  for  the  delay  have  been  found  in  the  necessities 
of  the  treasury,  which,  since  the  report  was  made,  has  been  kept  in  an  un- 
satisfactory state,  by  unforeseen  causes  ;  first,  the  famine  in  Ireland,  which 
rendered  a  loan  necessary;  secondly,  by  the  monetary  crises  of  1847; 
thirdly,  by  the  revolutions  of  1848-9. 
Reasons  why  As  the  apprehension  of  the  recurrence  of  these  causes  of  embarrassment 

it  is  now  prob-  .  .    . 

able,  and  its  ef-  is  subsiding,  and  the  revenue  is  recovering  itself,  whilst  the  various  interests 
of  the  country  are  prosperous  again,  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  this  im- 
portant change  may  be  proposed  during  the  next  session  of  Parliament.  It 
will  give  an  immense  impulse  to  the  trade  ;  and  although  in  two  or  three 
years,  no  doubt,  the  supply  will  become  adjusted  to  the  extent  of  the  de- 
mand, yet  for  the  succeeding  one  or  two  years  a  considerable  advance  above 
the  current  values  of  teas  generally  will  take  place.  This  need  not,  how- 
ever, raise  prices  above  the  scale  at  which  they  ruled,  until  a  recent  period, 
in  this  country. 

THE  TEA  TRADE  WITH  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  exemp-      In  striking  contrast  with  these  hindrances  to  the  tea  trade,  on  the  part  of 
duty.   Dispro-  Great  Britain,  is  the  remarkable  fact  of  the  total  exemption  of  tea  from 
consumption^8  duty  in  the  United  States.      This  has  been  the  case  since   1832  ;  and  it 
^sugg^sted.0  brings  us  to  the  more  immediate  consideration  of  the  trade  in  this  country. 
That  it  is  far  short  of  its  full  practical  development  here  is  apparent  to  any 
one  who  has  observed  attentively  the  system  pursued  in  England,  and  the 
means  taken  to  extend  its  use ;  indeed,  it  is  surprising  that  the  consumption 
is  so  much  less  than  it  is  in  England,  after  allowing  for  the  difference  in  the 
modes  of  introducing  its  use,  considering  the  general  habits  and  almost  uni- 
versal prosperity  of  our  people.     It  would  seem  that  this  is  to  be  attributed, 
in  a  great  degree,  to  the  general  want  of  knowledge  of  the  preferable  modes 
of  preparing  it ;  to  the  use  of  unsuitable  water ;  or  to  the  abuse  of  it,  by 
making  the  infusion  too  strong.     But  there  is  no  doubt  that  where  an  actual 
distaste  for  the  beverage  exists,  it  has  chiefly  arisen  from  the  introduction  of 
false  tea,  and  of  very  inferior  qualities  of  genuine  ;  and  this  has  in  part  been 
forced  upon  the  importer  by  the  demand  in  this  country  for  a  "  cheap  "  ar- 
The  hi  her-  ^e'  w^cn  m  e^ct  means  usually  a  low-priced  but  dear  one,  for  it  has  not 
c£?°ei  ufthe  yet  ^ecome  generally  known  here  that  economy  in  tea  consists  in  buying  the 
consumer.        better  classes — that  is  to  say,  the  medium  and  the  higher  priced. 

Reasons  why       When  it  is  considered  that  a  large  part  of  the  cost  of  tea  is  made  up  ot 

teahwche«pesf.  ^  transportation  and  similar  charges,  with  the  cost  of  chests  and  lead,  and 

the  export  duty  in  China — (which  last  is  about  three  cents  per  pound,  on  all 


TEA'.    AND     THE    TEA     TRADE.  11 


kinds  alike) — the  land  and  canal  carriage  in  China,  hundreds  of  miles,  and 
the  freight  and  similar  charges  from  China — which  from  their  nature  are 
made  proportionate  to  bulk  and  weight,  it  will  be  perceived  that  a  tea  cost- 
ing sixty  cents  per  pound  incurs  no  more  on  the  pound  for  these  charges 
than  a  tea  costing  but  thirty  cents  ;  and  that  whilst  these  charges,  assumed 
at  ten  cents  per  pound,  make  up  one-third  the  cost  of  the  last  named,  they 
amount  to  but  one-sixth  the  cost  of  the  sixty-cent  tea — thus  leaving,  in  gen- 
uine intrinsic  value,  five-sixths  of  the  cost  in  the  latter,  and  showing  that 
thirty  cents  invested  in  half  a  pound  of  the  better  tea,  would  leave  twenty- 
five  cents'  value  in  tea,  whilst  in  the  lower  quality  the  same  outlay  would 
leave  but  twenty  cents'  value  of  tea  ;  and  it  is  only  necessary  to  extend  this 
calculation  to  a  family's  annual  supply  to  show  how  material  is  the  pecuniary 
saving — which,  however,  is  not  so  important  as  the  avoidance  of  what  may 
be  injurious  to  health,  in  the  spurious  or  low  qualities. 

That  a  more  extended  use  of  tea  should  be  encouraged,  as  conducive  to       Considera- 
temperance  and  to  the  social  comforts  of  the  people,  has  long  been  the  opin-  pprtanceofthe 
ion  of  a  majority  of  their  Representatives  in  Congress,  and  has  always  use  of  *?<«.' 
proved  the  prevailing  argument  in  favor  of  its  continued  exemption  from 
duty. 

That  the  taste  for  it  may  be  greatly  diffused  by  judicious  management  on     The  taste  for 
the  part  of  the  dealers,  in  the  western  and  southern  portions  of  the  country  {ended  by  ju- 
especially,  where  the  inferior  qualities  have  been  largely  sent,  there  can  be  Cement. man" 
no  doubt  on  the  minds  of  those  who  have  witnessed  its  extended  use  and 
beneficial  effects  in  England  and  China. 

TESTIMONIALS  OF  THE  VALUE  OF  TEA. 

It  has  been  well  said  by  Dr.  Williams,  in  his  work  upon  China,*  that 
"  wherever  it  has  been  denounced,  the  opposition  may  usually  be  traced  to 
the  use  of  a  simulated  preparation."  And  he  remarks  that  "  in  Europe  its 
progress  has  been  well  compared  to  that  of  truth" 

"  Suspected  at  first,  though  very  palatable  to  those  who  had  the  courage 
to  taste  it — resisted  as  it  encroached  ;  abused  as  its  popularity  seemed  to 
spread ;  and  establishing  its  triumph  at  last,  in  cheering  the  whole  land, 
from  the  palace  to  the  cottage,  only  by  the  slow  and  resistless  effects  of  time 
and  its  own  virtues." 

The  predilection  of  the  great  Dr.  Johnson  for  tea  is  well  known ;  and  the     Evidences  of 
numerous  medical  and  other  authorities  in  favor  of  it  need  not  be  quoted  |£n  *jjpr|;<nia" 
here,  for  beyond  all  these  is  the  practical  evidence  of  its  appreciation  in  the  land- 
constant  increase  of  the  consumption  in  England,  where  the  modes   of  pre- 
paring it  are  most  regarded,  notwithstanding  the  enormous  tax  it  bears.     Of 
its  first  use  in  England,  Mr.  Montgomery  Martin  says  : — "In  1662,  Charles 
II.  married  the  Princess  Catherine  of  Portugal,  who,  it  is  said,  was  fond  of 


The  "  Middle  Kingdom." 


TEA:    AND   THE   TEA    TRADE. 


tea,  having  been  accustomed  to  it  in  her  own  country  ;  hence  it  became 
fashionable  in  England.  Waller,  in  a  birth-day  ode  to  her  Majesty,  ascribes 
the  introduction  of  the  herb*  to  the  Queen,  in  the  following  lines  :  — 

The  Poet's  "  *  The  best  of  Queens  and  best  of  herbs  we  owe 

To  that  bold  nation  who  the  way  did  show 
To  that  fair  region  where  the  sun  doth  rise, 
Whose  rich  productions  we  so  justly  prize.' 

its  ins  irin        "  ^e  same  poet  attributes  an  inspiring  power  to  the  Chinese  leaf:  — 

"  '  The  muses'  friend,  tea,  does  our  fancy  aid 
Repress  those  vapors  which  the  head  invade.'  " 


The  appreciation  in  which  it  has  long  been  held  in  China  by  the  people 
China.  jg  sho\vn  by  the  writings  of  many  native  authors,  some  extracts  of  transla- 

tions from  which  (published  in  the  Chinese  Repository  of  January  last,)  are 
here  given,  including  directions  for  the  preparation  of  tea.  The  observance 
of  the  last  in  using  tea  (the  writer  has  many  years'  experience  in  China  for 
declaring)  will  tend  greatly  to  extend  a  predilection  for  the  beverage  ;  and 
the  enjoyment  derived  will  be  proportionate  to  the  heed  bestowed  upon  this 
point. 

CHINESE    DIRECTIONS    FOR     THE     PREPARATION     OF      TEA     AS     A     BEVERAGE. 

wate^n^how      "  Whenever  the  tea  is  to  be  infused  for  use,"  says  Tung-po,  "  take  water  from 

to  boil  the  wa-  a  running  stream,  and  boil  it  over  a  lively  fire.     It  is  an  old  custom  to  use  run- 

ning water  boiled  over  a  lively  fire  ;  that  from  springs  in  the  hills  is  said  to  be 

the  best,  and  river  water  the  next,  while  well  water  is  the  worst.     A  lively  fire 

is  a  clear  and  bright  charcoal  fire. 

"  When  making  an  infusion,  do  not  boil  the  water  too  hastily  ;  at  first  it  be- 

gins to  sparkle  like  *  crabs'  eyes  ;'  then  somewhat  like  *  fishes'  eyes,'  and  lastly 

it  boils  up  like  pearls  innumerable,  springing  and  waving  about.      This  is  the 

way  to  boil  the  water,  which  without  a  lively  fire  cannot  possibly  be  done  well. 

"  Tea  is  of  a  cooling  nature,  and  if  drank  too  freely  will  produce  exhaustion 

coofing^ature*  and  lassitude  ;  country  people  before  drinking  it  add  ginger  and  salt  to  counter- 

and  in  bights-  act  ^s  C0on'n8'  property.     It  is  an  exceedingly  useful  plant;  cultivate  it,  and 

teem.  the  benefit  will  be  widely  spread  ;  drink  it,  and  the  animal  spirits  are  lively  and 

clear.     The  chief  rulers,  dukes  and  nobility  esteem  it  ;  —  the  lower  people,  the 

poor  and  beggarly,  will  not  be  destitute  of  it  ;  —  all  will  be  able  daily  to  use  it 

and  like  it." 

Another  authority  says  :  —  "  By  drinking  the  genuine  tea,  people  require  less 
sleep,"  which  is  really  the  case  ;  but  as  the  tea  is  good  and  efficacious,  so  like- 
wise is  the  tea  dust  to  drink,  but  the  leaves  should  not  be  boiled. 

Another  author  says  :  —  "  That  drinking  it  tends  to  clear  away  all  impurities, 
drives  off  drowsiness,  and  removes  or  prevents  head-ache,  and  is  universally  in 
high  esteem." 

It  will  be  seen  that  spring  or  river  water  is  preferable  to  well  water  ;  and 
it  may  be  added  that  water  with  any  impregnation  of  limestone  is  unjsuita- 


*Shrub 


TEA:      AND     THE     TEA     TRADE.  13 

ble.     In  China  an  earthen  vessel  for  heating  the  water  and  a  tea-pot  of  f  -  A  ---  N 
China-ware  are  both  considered  indispensable. 

The  mode  suggested  by  M.  Soyer,  of  the  Reform  Club,  London,  as  given      Mi  s0yer'$ 
below,  is  no  doubt  worthy  of  adoption,  with  special  care  that  the  water  is  ™gdTea.f  mak* 
really  boiling  ;  and  to  have  the  tea  in  perfection  the  first  infusion  only  should 
be  used.     If,  therefore,  sufficient  drink  has  not  been  obtained  from  the  first 
filling  of  the  tea-pot,  it  should  be  cleansed,  and  fresh  leaves  put  in  with 
boiling  water  again  ;  and  thus  the  tea-pot  should  always  be  cleansed  after  use. 

HOW    TO    MAKE    A    GOOD    CUP    OF    TEA. 

M.  Soyer  recommends  that  before  pouring  in  any  water  the  tea-pot,  with  the 
tea  in  it,  shall  be  placed  in  the  oven  till  hot,  or  heated  by  means  of  a  spirit- 
lamp,  or  in  front  of  the  fire,  (not  too  close,  of  course,)  and  the  pot  then  filled 
with  boiling  water.  The  result,  he  says,  will  be,  in  about  a  minute,  a  most  de- 
licious cup  of  tea,  much  superior  to  that  drawn  in  the  ordinary  way. 

THE  QUESTION  OF  A  DUTY  UPON  TEA  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

To  revert  to  the  question  of  duty  in  this  country,  it  is  pretty  certain  that  A  tax  upon 
no  one  will  propose  so  unpopular  a  measure,  so  long  as  the  wants  of  the  JjJ  ""JJSJjJj 
treasury  can  be  supplied  from  sources  less  objectionable.  Neither  tea  or  withojrt  com- 
coffee  are  grown  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  so  that  a  duty  upon 


them  would  appear  like  a  direct  tax  upon  the  consumers,  without  a  com-  check  our  cot- 

.  .  ton   manufact- 

pensatmg  benefit  to  any  interest  in  the  country  ;  and  as  a  check  to  the  con-  ure. 
sumption  of  tea  here  tends  to  check  the  demand  for  our  cotton  manufactures 
in  China,  where  those  have  to  come  in  competition  with  the  product  of  the 
cheaper  labor  of  England,  it  would  seem  to  be  impolitic  to  impose  a  duty 
upon  the  leaf  so  long  as  other  sources,  which  do  not  reach  the  prosperity  of 
the  country  or  the  social  comforts  of  the  people,  exist. 

There  are  also  national  considerations  of  the  greatest  importance  involved  The  exemp- 
in  this  question  of  duty,  for  it  is  undeniable  that  the  exemption  of  the  great 
staple  of  China  from  all  imposts  gives  us,  as  a  nation,  a  just  advantage- 
ground  in  any  negotiations  with  the  Chinese  government.  The  value  of  this 
position  can  be  estimated  by  those  who  have  marked  the  almost  marvelous  pro- 
gress  westward,  and  toward  China,  made  by  this  country  the  past  year,  and  imity  to  China- 
who  can  appreciate  the  advantages  which  are  to  be  derived  from  the  exten- 
sion of  our  territories  in  closer  proximity  to  that  empire.  Nor  will  such  fail  Sagacity  and 
to  recognize  and  admire  the  sagacity  of  those  to  whose  enlightened  enter-  SiS™  How- 
prise  we  are  indebted,  at  this  early  period  in  the  history  of  our  newly-ac- 


quired  territories,  for  that  efficient  and  admirable  link  in  the  chain  (already  associates- 
so  golden  an  one)  which  at  present  binds  our  distant  portions  together  so 
firmly.  We  need  hardly  say  that  we  allude  to  the  Pacific  line  of  steamers 
from  Panama  to  California,  established  by  Messrs.  Howland  &  Aspinwall, 
and  their  associates,  which  has  served  so  materially  to  develop  and  render 


14  TEA:    AND    THE    TEA   TRADE. 

accessible  the  wonderful  resources  of  that  region,  whose  treasures  had  lain 
undisturbed,  if  not  unknown,  until  about  a  twelvemonth  ago ;  and  which  is 
so  important  as  a  pioneer  line  and  connecting  link  in  that  chain  formed  by 
mutual  interests,  which  is  destined  to  draw  more  closely  the  oldest  of  Em- 
pires and  the  New  World. 


TEA :  AID  THE  TEA  TRADE. 


THIS  subject  has  been  introduced  in  the  January  issue  of  this  Magazine,  Introduction, 
by  the  presentation  of  its  general  features,  considered  with  more  especial  ref-         "V 
erence  to  China,  and  the  two  other*  principal  consuming  countries. 

It  is  now  proposed  to  give  a  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  trade,  and  to  ex- 
hibit its  statistical  progress  and  present  position  in  all  the  more  considerable 
consuming  countries,  as  well  as  in  China. 

Before  proceeding;  to  do  this,  it  is  proper  to  say  that  the  original  purpose     Writer's  rea- 

,  .  ,     sons  for  enlarg- 

of  the  writer  was  simply  to  exhibit  the  present  position  ot  the  trade,  which  mg  the  paper*, 
would  have  been  of  interest  to  one  class  of  readers  only ;  but  the  re-awakened 
general  interest  in  China — arising  from  our  newly-established  territorial  prox- 
imity to  it,  and  from  the  demonstrations — as  wonderful  as  rapid — of  the  prac- 
ticability of  materially  shortening  the  voyage  thither,  from  this  eastern  shore 
of  our  country — and  which  is  not  the  less  quickened  by  the  unfolding  of  the 
marvelous  riches  of  our  newly-acquired  possessions — has  led  to  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  design.  And  if  it  serves,  in  any  degree,  to  promote  and  diffuse 
the  use  of  tea,  the  writer  will  be  fully  repaid  the  value  of  his  time. 

He  trusts  that,  at  least,  the  citations  of  the  various  authorities — Chinese     Moral  and  e- 

—       .  ,.,......  .  .       conomical    re- 

and  Foreign — showing  the  estimation  in  which  it  is  held  in  those  countries  suits  of  the  eu- 
where  the  modes  of  preparing  it  are  best  understood  will  serve  to  suggest  the  teasuggested. 
moral  and  economical  results  to  be  expected  from  its  enlarged  use  in  this 
country. 

Mindful  that  the  chief  practical  value  of  the  paper  to  merchants  will  con-     vaiu 
sist  in  the  reliableness  of  the  statistical  portions  of  it,  the  writer  has  bestowed 
especial  care  upon  them. 

SKETCH  OF  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  TEA  TRADE. 

We  now  proceed  to  a  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  trade,  and  to  present 
its  statistical  progress  and  present  position,  accompanied  by  the  evidence  of 
Mr.  Winch  arid  Mr.  Norton,  before  the  Select  Committee  of  the  House  of 

*  For  China  is  the  greatest  consuming,  as  well  as  the  producing,  country. 


16  TEA:    AND     THE     TEA     TRADE. 


Commons  of  England,  showing  the  "sympathy  of  consumption  with  prices," 
and  by  remarks  upon  the  state  of  the  trade  in  this  country. 

Knowied  e       "  ^e  knowledge  °^  tne  *ea  P^ant?  among  the  Chinese,  cannot  be  traced 
of  the  tea  plant  back  further  than  A.  D.  350,  but  its  general  introduction  does  not  date  prior 

among  the  Chi- 

^elefirstbrin"   t0  ab°Ut  A<  ^  80°' 

tea  to  Western       The  Portuguese  navigators  were  probably  the  first  to  bring  tea  to  Western 

Europe  in  the  _  .  .         .  ,  _  °_.       .     . 

isth    century.  Europe,  at  some  period  during  the  sixteenth  century.     In  rersia  it  was  in 
sia  "general  In  general  use  in  1633.     In  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the  Dutch 
duced  into  EU-  East  India  Company  imported  some  tea  into  Europe ;  but  it  was  scarcely 
562'     known  in  England  until  after  the  marriage  of  Charles  II.  with  the  Princess 
Catharine  of  Portugal,  in  1662.     In  1669,  the  English  East  India  Compa- 
ny's first  invoice  of  tea  was  received  in  two  canisters,  containing  1431  Ibs. 
In  1678  they  imported  4,713  Ibs. ;  but  this  quantity  so  glutted  the  market 
that  but  little  was  brought  for  several  years  after.     In  1680  the  English 
Company  opened  a  direct  trade  with  China.      In  1700  the  import  had 
reached  60,000  Ibs.  per  annum.     In  1721  it  had  reached  1,000,000  Ibs.    In 
the  100  years  from  1710  to  1810,  there  were  sold,  at  the  East  India  Com- 
pany's sales,  750,219,016  Ibs.  of  tea,  the  value  of  which  was  £129,804,595 
sterling.     Of  this  quantity  116,470,675  Ibs  were  reexported. 

THE   TEA   TRADE    WITH    GREAT   BRITAIN"   DURING    THE    PRESENT 

CENTURY. 

.  .          Since  the  commencement  of  the  present  century,  1,385, 949, 566  Ibs.  of 
summaryofthe  tea  had  been  sold  in  England,  (down  to  1845,)  and  there  had  been  paid 

trade  in  Eng- 
land, into  the  British  exchequer  about  £167,643,702  sterling  on  this  last-men- 
tioned quantity  of  tea.f 

Tables  of  Mr.      The  following  table,  submitted  by  Mr.  Winch  to  the  Select  Committee  of 
£  the  House  of  Commons  in  1847,  and  referred  to  in  his  evidence  before  it, 
^  gives  the  quantities  of  tea  delivered  for  home  consumption  in  England,  from 
1801  to  1846>  inclusive,  the  prices  of  common  Congou,  in  bond,  and  duty 
consumption.    ^^  wjt^  faQ  varyjng  rates  of  duty ;  and  was  designed  to  show  the  "  sym- 
pathy of  consumption  with  prices." 


Average  price       Delivered  for 
of  common               home 
Congou.           consumption. 
In  Bond.   Duty  Paid. 

Rates  of  duty. 
1800,  Teas  under  2s.  5d.,  5  per  cent  Customs, 
and  15  per  cent  Excise  ;  above  2s.  5d.,  5 

Year. 

s. 

d. 

s. 

d. 

Pounds. 

per  cent  Customs,  and  35  per  cent  Excise. 

1801,  May,  50  per  cent  above  2s.  6d.  ; 

say, 

1801... 

3 

2f 

4 

8* 

24,470,646  ] 

on  an  average,  45  per  cent. 

1811... 

3 

Oi 

5 

11 

23,058,496 

1804,  96  per  cent  on  all  teas. 

1821... 

2 

7 

5 

2 

27,638,081  | 

1821,  100  per  cent  on  teas  above  2s.;  9( 
cent  on  teas  under  2  s. 

5  per 

1831... 
1834... 

2 

1 

H 

9 

4 
3 

3 
11 

30,920,879 
35,490,901  | 

1834,  April  22d,  duty  on  Bohea,  Is.  6d  ; 
gou,  <fec.,  2s.  2d.  ;  other  sorts,  3s. 

Con- 

1835... 
1836... 

1 

1 

4f 

14 

3 
3 

Pt 
2* 

36,653,000 
38,707,000 

1836,  duties  equalized  to  2s.  Id. 

*  Dr.  Williams'  "  Middle  Kingdom." 

f  Mr.  Martin's  report  to  the  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons. 


TEA:      AND     THE     TEA     TRADE.  17 


1837. 
1838. 
1839. 
1840. 
1841. 
1842. 
1843. 
1844. 
1845. 
1846. 

1 
.   1 
.   1 

.   2 
.   1 
1 
.   1 
.   1 
.   0 
0 

If 

si 

2 
0 
10 
9 

3 
3 
3 
4 
4 
3 
3 
3 
3 
2 

5f 

6 
Of 
11 

9  J. 
*! 

36,315,000 
36,415,000 
36,351,000 
31,716,000 
36,811,000 
37,554,000 
39,902,000 
41,048,721 
43,595,265 
47,534,000 

f  
1840,  May,  5  per  cent  added  to  duty. 

The  following  papers  were  handed  in  by  W.  Norton,  Esq.,  to  the  same  Tables  of  Mr. 
Committee,  and  referred  to  in  his  evidence,  and  are  given  in  detail,  as  show-  j^JJJ  UK? com- 
ing the  "  sympathy  of  consumption  with  prices  and  the  general  state  of  the  JgJJ^  0ffCom! 
trade  in  Great  Britain,  in  1847  : —  mons- 

It  is  believed  that  these  papers  demonstrate,  generally,  from  documents  and 
facts  upon  which  the  greatest  reliance  may  be  placed — 

1  That  an  enormous  increase  in  consumption  may  be  expected,  if  brought  within 
the  means  of  the  great  mass  of  the  population,  from  the  very  large  annual  con- 
sumption of  private  families  of  the  middle  class  who  are  in  competence,  even 
under  the  present  duty  (say  13  Ibs.  per  head);  and  the  proof,  that  even  in  ex- 
treme poverty,  tea  and  dry  bread  is  frequently  the  only  sustenance  of  the  poor. 

2  That  the  consumption  has  varied  throughout  in  extreme  degrees,  in  corre- 
spondence with  the  more  or  less  pressure  of  the  price  and  duty. 

3  That  the  supply  of  tea  from  China  has  ever  been,  and  will  most  probably 
be,  limited  only  by  the  extent  of  the  demand.* 

4  That  assuming  the  extremely  probable  increase  of  consumption  in  the  first 
year  to  80,000,000  Ibs.,  the  deficiency  in  the  revenue  would  be  very  trifling,  and 
that  the  revenue  would,  at  an  early  period,  be  much  improved. 

5  To  the  incalculable  benefit  of  the  consumers,  manufacturing  interest,  and 
shipping. 

No.  1. 
POPULATION,   AND    CONSUMPTION   OF  TEA. 

Consumption.       Rate  per  head. 
Population.          Pounds. 

In  1801 . .   Great  Britain 10,942,646     23,271,790    (  ^nc't'n  what  Pro' 

12>596>803  22>454>532  itt^HSI 

1821..  14,391,631 

Ireland 6,801,827 


1831 . .   Great  Britain 16,539,318 


26,754,537       1±  Ib.  per  an. 


-  29,997,055       Ab't  1£  Ib.  per  an. 


Ireland 7,767,401 

1841..  Great  Britain 18,720,394  )  Qft  Rb*  ^       IJLVK 

Ireland 8,196,597  [  86>675>677       H lb*  Per  annum. 

1846..   United  Kingdom  (suppose)    29,000,000    47,534,000       If  Ib.  per  an. 

It  will  be  seen  that  from  1831  to  1841,  there  was  only  a  rise  in  consumption 
of  one-eighth  of  a  pound  per  head  of  population,  owing  to  the  high  prices  of  the     Examination 
war  still  prevailing;  from  1841  to  1846,  the  consumption  has  increased  one-  Consumption^ 
quarter  of  a  pound  per  head,  principally  arising  from  the  reduction  in  the  import 
price  to  a  point  which  is  ruinous  to  the  trade,  notwithstanding  the  enormous 
duty  levied.     A  strong  inference  may  be  drawn  as  to  the  large  increase  of  con- 
sumption which  would  be  likely  to  follow  a  reduction  of  the  price  of  tea  to  two- 
thirds  its  present  cost. 

In  private  families,  whose  expenses  are  based  on  competence,  the  consumption     Famiiieg  in 

— ______ competence 

use  12  to  13 

*  The  prices  always  becoming  adjusted  to  the  extent  of  demand. 
3 


18  TEA:    AND    THE    TEA   TRADE. 


of  tea  is  twelve  to  thirteen  pounds  per  head.     Domestic  servants,  in  such  fn  mi- 

pounds    per    ijeS)  when  allowed  tea,  have  usually  one-quarter  of  a  pound  per  week,  or  thirteen 

num,  and  ser-  pounds  per  annum. 

the  same.0™  Within  a  few  months,  two  coroners'  inquests  were  held  on  two  poor  women 
starved  to  death,  not  known  to  each  other.  They  were  both  proved  to  have 
lived>  for  the  last  fortnight,  on  a  little  tea  and  dry  bread.  Of  the  few  pence  ex- 

the  poor.          pended  on  tea,  two-thirds  went  in  the  duty. 

No.  2. 
VARYING    CONSUMPTION   OF   TEA,    ACCORDING   TO    DUTY   AND    PRICE. 

Duty.  Consumption. 

Pounds. 
In  1782  ......    £55  15s.  lOd.  per  cent  and  Is.  1  4-5d.    6,202,257 

1783  ......  "  "  4,741,522 

1784  .....    £12  10s.  per  cent  only  ............    10,150,700  Increase  113i  per  ct, 

1785.......  "  ............    14,800,932         "          46 

1786  ......  "  ............    15,851,747         "  7 

1795  ......    20  per  cent  .....................    21,342,845  Incr'se,12y's,350p.c, 

1801  ......    50  per  cent  2s.  6d.  ;  20  per  ct.  under   23,730,150 

I/ge  profit  f1803  Q5  65        „  24,877,450        "     8y's,16ip.c- 

iv  ^    Ji  1821  10°        "  96         "  26,754,537         "    18    ' 

31>829'620        "12 


"]  In  1834  began  free 

|  trade.  No  artificial 

1834  ........  2s  2d.  per  Ib.  Congou,  Is.  6d.  per  Ib.  0,  ofio  /,„-.    j^prof  's,  &  reduct'n 

Bohea;  in  1836,  all  sorts,  2s.  2£d.  <*4>yby>bd        in  price  of  tea  fully 

j  Is.6d.to2s.  perlb. 
1844  ........................................  41,363,770 

Great  in-       1846  ........................................  47,534,977  Incr'se,  12  y's,  35  p.  c. 

sumption   un-      It  will  be  seen  that  from   1784  to  1795,  inclusive,  12  years,  the  consumption 
der  a  low  duty.  ^  ^ea  increased  350  per  cen^  i  ?  an(j  although,  no  doubt,  the  extremely  low  duty 
suppressed  a  great  deal  of  smuggling,  the  increase  in  consumption  must  have 
been  very  large,  owing  to  its  great  reduction  in  price. 

The  duty,  in  1795,  was  20  per  cent;  1797,  20  per  cent;  1798,  35  per  cent; 
1800,  40  per  cent;  1801,  50  per  cent  above  2s.  6d.  ;  and  the  increased  consump- 
Faiiingoff  tion  in  eight  years,  from  1795  to  1803,  was  only  16i  per  cent.. 
u^deTnigh-11      In  1803>  the  duty  was  raised  to  95  per  cent,  2s.  6d.,  and  65  per  cent  under  2s. 
erduty.  Q^  to  180g  .  96  per  cent  to  jgig,  and  100  per  cent  to  1821  ;  and  the  consump- 

tion increased  in  18  years  only  7i  per  cent,  while  the  increase  in  the  population 
during  the  same  period,  was  27  per  cent  ;  consequently,  the  high  price  of  tea  ab- 
Great  sus-   solutely  diminished  greatly  the  consumption. 

consmnptioif       ^an  Pro°f  ^e  carried  further,  of  the  extreme  susceptibility  to  price  of  the  con- 

to  price.         sumption  of  tea?    If  so,  it  will  be  found  in  the  fact  that  from  1834  to  1846,  in 

12  years,  under  the  modified  price  consequent  on  free  trade,  and  notwithstanding 

the  extremely  oppressive  duty,  the  consumption  has  again  started  forward,  and 

is  now  increased  35  per  cent  up  to  the  end  of  1846. 

It  may  be  said  that  in  the  population  of  1783,  a  large  portion  knew  nothing  of 
tea  until  introduced  to  them  \>y  a  remarkable  reduction  in  price.     True  ! 

Equally  it  may  be  said  that  a  large  proportion  of  our  present  population  does 
not  consume  tea,  and  would  be  induced  to  consume  it,  were  4s.  Congou  reduced 
Circumstan-  to  2s.  6d.  per  pound. 

v^rfnglrwreas-      All  the  present  comparative  circumstances  of  the  country,  free  intercommuni- 

on wtthTtow"  ca^on  °f  i*8  population,  general  employment,  increased  sobriety,  extending  ed- 

er  duty.  ucation  and  morality,  "  tea-totalism,"  &c.,  are  in  favor  of  the  assumption  that 

low  prices  would  induce  very  general  consumption;  and  a  reduction  of  Is.  6d. 


TEA!     AND    THE     TEA    TRADE.  19 


from  4s.  per  pound  would  be  infinitely  more  attractive  to  the  bulk  of  the  people 
than  was  the  decline  from  6s.  and  7s.  down  to  4s.  and  5s. 

No.  3. 

PROBABILITY   OF    INCEEASED    SUPPLY. 
Pounds.  Prices  in  China. 

„;  'Ton'JS;  5  Season  1835-36  :  Fukkein  Bohea,  14ts.  ;  Campoi  P1?  sufficient. 

<  - 


„      on 

94,129,48< 

Equal  to  per  an.         47,064,740         Increased  supply,  57  per  cent. 

1842c  ..........         In  these  six  years,  owing  to  the  disputes  with  China,  the  exports 

were  extremely  irregular  ;  but  the  whole  for  the  six  years  was 

209,171,099  Ibs.;  averaging  34,861,847  Ibs. 

Uncertain.  ts.    m. 

1843d  .........         47,855,312         1842.  October  to  December,  Congou.  .  .        14  30 

1844e  ..........         50,241,428         1843  "  "  "      ____      16  33 

1845/  ..........         53,959,618         1844.  January  to  March  "      ____      1336 

18460  .........        57,584,561         October,  1845,  to  March,  1846     «      ____      16  36 

-  A  very  few  chops  ................      40  00 

a  Export  from  China  to  United  Kingdom,  ending  30th  of  March  ;  b  Export  from  23d 
of  April,  1834,  to  30th  of  March  ;  c  Export  from  1st  of  July,  1836,  to  30th  of  June  ; 
d  Export  from  1st  July,  1842,  to  30th  June  ;  e  Export  from  1st  July,  1843,  to  80th 
June  ;  /  Export  from  1st  July,  1844,  to  30th  June  ;  g  Export  from  1st  July,  1845,  to 
30th  June. 

This  season's  exports  expected  to  be  equal  to  last.  October,  1846,  quotation,  16ts 
34m. 

Mem.  —  The  latest  advices  from  China  have  quoted  a  very  considerable  decline  in 
the  price  of  teas. 

Tea  is  grown  largely  near  Canton,  in  23  deg.  N.  ;  Fukkein,  in  27  deg.  N.j  where  grown 
and  above  Nankin,  in  about  32  deg.  N.,  along  the  course  of  the  Yang-tse  Keang 
River,  whence  the  best  teas  are  procured.     Tea  is  also  grown  some  degrees  fur- 
ther north. 

The  late  Sir  George  Staunton  remarks,  in  his  account  of  Lord  Macartney's 
embassy  —  "  Such  immense  quantities  of  tea  are  raised  in  China,  that  a  sudden  George  staun- 
failing  of  the  demand  from  Europe  would  not  be  likely  to  cause  any  material  re-  {£  no  Pmate" 
duction  in  price  in  the  China  markets."  And  it  is  seen  that,  under  all  fluctua-  rifalrired^c0tjl(jH 
tions  of  supply  to  us,  the  price  in  China  has  remained  nearly  the  same,  while  tf  e  follow  a  failing 
supply  has  ever  been  more  than  commensurate  to  our  extreme  wants. 

No.  4. 

ASSUMED    EFFECT   ON   REVENUE   BY   ALTERATION    OF   THE   DUTY    ON   TEA,  FROM    2s.    2^D.   TO 

Is.  PER  POUND.  Assumed  ef- 

Price  of  Common  Congou,  retail,  is  ...........................  4s.  per  pound,  t^nof  th^duty 

9-    d-  tola,  per  Ib.  oil 

First  cost  ...................................         0  10  per  Ib.  the  revenue. 

Duty  ......................................         2      2£     " 

Assumed  profit,  wholesale  ....................         0     2       " 

retail,  25  per  cent  as  cash  ......         0    10       "  4s.  per  pound. 

If  duty  were  reduced  ;  price  ...............................  2s.  6d.  per  Ib. 

First  cost  ...................................         010        " 

Duty  ......................................         10 

Assumed  profit,  wholesale  ......  :  .............         0     2        " 

retail,  25  per  cent  as  cash  ......         06        "  2s  6  d.  per  Ib. 

Or  2d.  per  ounce,  instead  of  3d. 

Thus  33£  per  cent  of  the  present  expenditure  in  tea  would  be  saved,  and  ap-        Saving  of 
plicable  among  the  economical  classes,  greatly  to  the  increase  of  the  strength  of    JhPreebditure 
the  tea  which  they  drink,  and  which  is  now,  in  most  cases,  with  the  poor,  mere 
water  spoiled. 


20 


TEA:    AND    THE   TEA   TRADE. 


Suppose  the  consumption  increased,  in  the  second  year,  to  80,000,000  Ibs., 
increase  of  (and  it  is  probable  that  it  would  be  so,  even  in  the  first,)  the  calculation  with  the 
consumption   revenue  would  stand  thus:— 
and  revenue. 

The  present  consumption  of  45,000,000  Ibs.  at  2s.  2£d.  per  Ib £4,921,875 

Would  become  80,000,000  Ibs.  at  Is £4,000,000 

Add  3  Ibs.  sugar  per  Ib.  increase  of  tea,  46,875  tons  at 

£21  per  ton 984,375  4,984,375 

Causing  an  increase  of £62,500 

The  following  statements  of  the  exports  of  tea  from  China  to  Great  Brit- 
ain, are  chiefly  from  the  reports  of  the  British  Chamber  of  Commerce,  of 
of  thc^ex^ons  Canton.     (It  will  be  observed  that  these  show  the  total  export  to  England, 
of  tea  to  Great  whereas  the  above  statements  do  not  include  the  tea  not  consumed  in  Emr- 

Bntam :  years         ,          ,  ,     i  \ 

1844  to  1850.     and,  and  reexported.) 


EXPORT   OF   TEA   FROM   CHINA   TO   GREAT   BRITAIN. 


Scented 
O.  Pekoe. 
1,056,800 
1,832,300 
2,592,700 


Sorts.  Total  Black. 

484,200  41,639,400 

463,600  41,373,300 

924,400  44,975,500 


Hyson.       Imperial.  Gunpowder.  Tot.  Green.      Total  Ibs. 


Date.          Congou.         Souchong.         Caper  Pekoe. 

1844a.  37,735,900  1,315,800  519,900  526,800 
18456.  35,740,400  1,341,800  1,367.300  627,900 
1846c.  37,173,500  1,966,100  1,637,800  681,000 

Hyson       Young 

Date.        Skin.         Hyson.     Twankay. 

1844a  549,000  1,465,200  3,828,600  1,276,300  581,700  1,273,400  8,974,200  50,613,600 
18456  319,300  2,969,100  3,200,300  2,1  12,100  1,229,900  2,366,200  12,196,900  53,570,200 
1846c>  207,000  3,395,600  3,680,300  1,685,100  1,104,000  2,537,100  12,609,100  57,584,600 
a  Year  ending  June  30,  in  97  vessels  ;  b  year  ending  June  30,  in  105  vessels  ;  c  year 
ending  June  30,  in  117  vessels. 

Scented 

Congou.      Caper.     Caper.  Souchong.  Sorts. 

10,067,665    142,121     706,083  1,436,121  264,965 

36,602,963    100,570  1,027,916  767,499  379,827 

33,877,560     .......   1,371,587  1,042,505  294,241 

Hyson  Young 

Season.  Twankay.  Skin.       Hyson. 

1846-47a  .........     1,425,560    39,236    1,443,468 


Season. 
1846-47a 
1847-486 
1848-49c 


Flowery 
Pekoe. 
698,918 
165,317 
438,500 


1847-486 
1848-49c 


813,232         116    1,088,270    2,168,190 
118,062    49,246       967,697    3,077,882 

a  In  105  vessels 


283,215 
117,203 
Gun- 

Hyson.    Imperial,  powder. 

2,347,631    675,312    2,068,442 


551,816    2,331,014 
619,643    3,646,656 

b  in  92  vessels  ;  c  in  86  vessels. 


Or.        Scented        Total 
Pekoe.  Or.  Pekoe.      Black. 
510,698    1,622,119    45,448,690 
1,402,736 
1,631,071 
Total 
Green. 
7,999,649 
6,952,638 
8,479.186 


40,730,043 

38,772,667 

Total 

Export. 

53,448,339 

47,682,681 

47,251,853 


COMPARATIVE    STATEMENT  OF    EXPORTS  OF    TEAS    FROM  ALL  CHINA  TO  THE  UNITED  KINGDOM, 
FROM  1ST  JULY,  TO  SEPTEMBER  25TH,  1849,  AND  FOR  THE  CORRESPONDING  PERIOD  OF  1848. 


Congou. .... 
Souchong. . . 

Pekoe 

S.  0. Pekoe. 

S.  Caper 

Powchong. . 
Sorts.. . 


1848-49. 

Pounds. 

9,352,044 

531,382 

16,142 

426,826 

354,223 

5,190 

53,357 


1849-50. 

Pounds. 
17329,290 

Twankay  

Pounds.            Pounds. 

1848-49.    1849-50. 

42365 

680  214 

Hyson 

22723          44400 

130,972 
711,106 

Young  Hyson.  .  .  . 
Hyson  Skin  

560,905        234,587 
6,613 

593529 

Gunpowder 

928  821        983  217 

Imperial  

88  353          19  368 

OOO  QQQ 

19,728,510 

Total  Green  
Grand  Total.... 

1,649,680     1,281,572 
12,328,844  21,010,082 

Total  Black.       10,739,164 

The  following  tables,  showing  the  condition  of  the  trade  in  Great  Britain, 

of  the'tradetl<in  ^  Presen*  Jear  an(i  ^e  P98^  are  fr°m  the  circular  of  Messrs.  Brodribb  and 

Great    Britain  Coates,  of  Liverpool : — 
in  1848  to  1849. 

GENERAL   STATEMENT  OF  IMPORTS,  DELIVERIES,  AND   STOCKS  OF  TEA  AT  LIVERPOOL,  DUBLIN, 
AND   LONDON,   FOR    1849   AND  1848. 

IMPORTS. 

Liverpool.  Dublin.  London, 

let  January,  to  16th  August.  1st  January,  to  16th  August.    1st  January,  to  16th  July. 

1849.    1848.    1849.    1848.    1849.    1848. 

Foreign....     6,666,300     8,600,300        217,300        599,700      26,814.000     24,326,000 
Coastwise..        527,000        292,800     1,818,800     1,841,900          472,000          818,000 


Totalimpr'ts     7,193,300     8,893,100     2,036,100     2,441,600      27,286,000     25,144,000 


TEA:    AND   THE   TEA    TRADE. 


21 


DELIVERIES. 


Duty  paid..  3,966,000  3,573,500  2,068,800  2,121,600 
Sentcoast'se  3,853,000  4,339,200  89,600  103,300 
Exported....  668,100  490,300  ................ 


14,945,000  15,036,000 
5,039,000  3,806,000 
1,942,000  1,433,000 


Tot.  deliv'es.     8,487,700     8,403,000     2,158,400     2,224,900      21,926,000     20,275,000 
Stocks 9,437,700   13,614,200     1,326,400     1,667,900      34,755,000     38,045,000 

STATEMENT   OF    IMPORTS,    DELIVERIES,  AND    STOCKS    OF    EACH   KIND    OF   TEA,    AT    LIVERPOOL 
AND   LONDON,    FOR    1849    AND    1848. 

N.  B. — With  the  most  trifling  exception,  the  stock  in  Dublin  consists  entirely  of  Congou 

LIVERPOOL. 


Bohea  

Imports.                              De 
1st  Jan.  to  16th  Aug.              1st  Jan. 

1849.           1848.        1849. 

8.600 

liveries, 
to  16th  Aug 

1848, 

5,800 
6,393,200 
35,500 
159,200 
11,500 
10,700 
114,100 
22,000 
15,100 
96,800 
199,500 
150,600 
4,400 
199,500 
330,000 
154,300 
261,500 
239,300 

Stocks. 
16th  Aug. 

1849.        1848. 

110,300       121,800 
5,759,700  10,635,500 
21,400         32,700 
147,900         97,400 
43,900         61,600 
24,000         22,500 
335,700       373,000 
77,700        65,000 
8,200           9,500 
5,400         46,600 
447,800      580,500 
651,300       468,400 
36,800         26,600 
254,200       199,000 
414,400       503,500 
50,500         75,500 
353,400       106,200 
795,100       188,900 

Congou 

6,144,300 
25,000 
158,400 

7,180,800  6,316,600 
35,600        11,400 
155,500      122,900 
600 

Caper.     .  .    . 

S.  Caper  

Pouchong 

Ng.  Yg.  &  Og. 
Souchong.  .  .  . 
Pekoe  <fcH.Mu 
Flow'ry  Pekoe 
Or.  Pekoe.... 
S.  0.  Pekoe.  . 
Twankay  .... 
Hyson  Skin.  . 
Hyson 

39,300 

116,000 
11,900 
5,400 

80,700      249,200 
.    5600 

15,600        27,600 
35,000        42,800 
425,000      282,400 
31,300      247,300 
100          3,300 
67,500      105,500 
283,400      424,200 
45,400        98,300 
203,100      324,000 
334,100      178,100 

250,200 
18,300 
3,800 
79,600 
281,000 
58,400 
471,600 
569,400 

Young  Hyson. 
Imperial  
Gunpowder  .  . 
Sorts  

Total  Black. 
Total  Green. 

Total  Ibs. 
Bohea       .... 

6,280,700 
912,700 

8,262,300  7,285,100 
630,800  1,202,600 

7,302,700 
1,100,300 

7,777,100  12,235,000 
1,660,500    1,379,200 

7,193,300       8,893,100  8,487,700 

LONDON.. 

1st  Jan.  to  16th  July.            1st  Jan.  to  1 

1849,         1848,         1849, 

Q  nnn 

8,403,000 
6th  July. 

1848. 

8,000 
3,636,000 
100,000 
382,000 
25,000 
226,000 
676,000 
26,000 
155,000 
190,000 
713,000 
557,000 
30,000 
688,000 
1,023,000 
385,000 
1,308,000 
144,000 

9,437,70013,614,200 
16th  July. 

1849,        1848, 

97,000        113,000 
23,927,000  25,533,000 
73,000        157,000 
228,000        420,000 
68,000          86,000 
119,000        357,000 
988,000     1,186,000 
65.000        119,000 
210,000        481,000 
334,000        704,000 
602,000        910,000 
1,207,000     1,844,000 
166,000        157,000 
1,001,000     1,423,000 
3,019,000     2,291,000 
602,000        744,000 
1,665,000     1,206,000 
384,000        314,000 

Congou  

19,414,000 

18,701,000  14,475,000  1 
22,000         41,000 
404,000        342,000 
11,000 

Caper  

S  Caper 

321,000 

Pouchong  

Ng.  Yg.&Og.. 
Souchong  
Pekoe  &  H.  Mu. 
Flowery  Pekoe. 
Or.  Pekoe  
S.  0.  Pekoe..  . 
Twankay  
Hyson  Skin  ... 
Hyson  

103,000 
812,000 
8,000 
286,000 
23,000 
840,000 
88,000 
35,000 
448,000 
2,165,000 
449,000 
2,138,000 
156.000 

258,000       174,000 
609,000        702,000 
1.000          26,000 
117,000        294,000 
208,000        248,000 
589,000        804,000 
275,000        692,000 
2,000          13,000 
500,000        785,000 
1,145,000     1,266,000 
308,000        376,000 
1,083,000     1,569,000 
922,000        117,000 

Young  Hyson.. 
Imperial  . 

Gunpowder  .  .  . 
Sorts  

Total  Black.   21,963,000  21,831,000  17,225,000  16,284,000  27,095,000  30,380,000 
Total  Green.     5,323,000     3,313,000    4,701,000     3,991,000     7,660,000     7,665,000 

Total  Ibs...  27,286,000  25,144,000  21,926,000   20,275,000  34,765,000  38,045,000 


22 


TEA:   AND   THE   TEA   TRADE. 


Prices  current 
Aug.  22d,  1849. 


To  which  the  Prices  Current  of  the  22d  of  August  last,  of  the  same  house, 
is  added,  to  show  the  prices  and  classification : — 

PRICES  CURRENT  OF  TEA  IN  LIVERPOOL,  (iN  BOND,)  DUTY,  28.  ID.  PER  POUND,  AND  5  PER 
CENT,  =  2S.  2^D.  PER  POUND,  NET. 

NOTE. — As  this  circular  is  prepared  solely  for  circulation  amongst  importers  and 
houses  in  China,  the  following  list  of  "  prices  current"  does  not  profess  to  give  the  ex- 
treme rates  which  may  occasionally  be  obtained  for  one  or  more  parcels  of  any  kind, 
under  other  than  ordinary  circumstances ;  but  its  aim  is  to  give  a  correct  view  of  prices 
current,  not  of  prices  exceptional,  in  the  market,  and  by  it  to  guard  against  those  dis- 
appointments which  so  often  arise  from  operations  based  on  quotations  giving  too  great 
latitude  of  range. 


22d  July,  1849. 
s.    d.        s.    d. 
Bohea,  Canton  per  Ib  0    2  to  0    4 
Congou,  ordin'y  to  good  ord.  0     8J     0     8f 
com'n  to  good  com.  09        09$ 
but  mid.  bl'k'sh  If.  0  10       0  10$ 
but  mid.  bl'k'sh  If., 
rather  str'ng  and 
Souchong  kinds.  Oil       0  11$ 
but  mid.,  bl'k'sh  If., 
r'th'r  str'ng  to  st.  0  11$      1     0 
but  mid.  bl'k'sh  If., 
ra.  str'g  to  st.  Pe- 
koe S'uch'ngflav.  10       12 
butmid.bl'k'hlf.st. 
<fe"HoHow"k'ds  0  11$     1     2 
but  mid.  to  mid.  bl'k 
lf.str.&Pek.flav  13       15 

22d  Aug.,  1849. 
s.     d.          s.    d. 
0     2    toO     4 
08$      0     8£  ~ 
09         09$ 
0  10         0  10$ 

0  11         0  11$ 
0  11$      10 

10        12 
0  11$      12 
13         161 

Remarks. 
Nominal. 

Saleable, 

mid.f'llst.&Pek.fla 

1  Not    much    doing 

in 

Istcl'ss  "Moning" 

1 

7 

1 

8 

1 

7 

1 

8     f          these  kinds. 

extra  fine  "Moning" 

1 

9 

1   10 

1 

9 

1 

10 

Souchong  ordinary        .... 

0 
0 

9 
11 

0  10 
1     8 

0     9 
0  11 

0 
1 

10    ; 

8 

Saleable  at  proportion- 
ately low  prices. 

good  to  fine  

N.  Yong  &  O'long,  g'd  to  fine 

0 

7 

1 

6 

0 

7 

1 

6     ' 

Caper,  com.  to  good,  in  ch'sts 

0 

5 

0 

6 

0 

5 

0 

6     ' 

•  Nominal. 

ditto,  in  10-catty  bx's. 
scented   ditto     .... 

0 
1 

7$ 
5 

0  • 
1 

8 
9 

0 
1 

5 

0 

1 

8     ' 
9    * 

"one  in  1st  h'nds  enn.  for 

Pekoe,  Bl'k  If.  &  Hung  Muey 

0 

9 

1 

0 

0 

9 

1 

o   - 

flow'y  ord.  &  out  condi 
good  to  fine 

0  10 

1      9 

1 
1 

0 

8 

0 
1 

10 
2 

1 

1 

i-  Nominal. 

o 

Orange  Pek.,  pl'n  com.  to  fine 

0 

7 

1 

0 

0 

7 

1 

o   J 

scented  com.  to 

fine,  in  $  chests. 

1 

2 

1 

8 

1 

3 

1 

8     ) 

scented  fine,  10- 

I  Saleable. 

catty  boxes.. 

2 

0 

2 

6 

2 

0 

2 

6     ) 

Canton  Green,  Twankay.  .  . 

0 

3 

0 

4 

0 

3 

0 

4 

.  Nominal. 

Young  Hys'n 

0 

6 

0 

7 

0 

6 

0 

7 

Imperial.  .  .  . 

0 

9 

0 

10 

0 

9 

0 

10 

.Saleable. 

Gunpowder  .  . 

1 

0 

1 

2 

1 

0 

1 

2 

Hyson  Skin,  common  to  fine 

0 

2 

1 

6 

0 

2 

1 

6 

Twankay   Good               .... 

o 

6 

0 

7 

0 

6 

0 

7 

.  Nominal. 

0 

9 

0 

10 

0 

9 

0 

10 

Young  Hyson  .  .  . 

0 

10 

1 

4 

0 

10 

1 

4 

Imperial 

o 

11 

1 

1 

o 

11 

1 

1 

-Saleable. 

Gunpowder  
Hyson,  Common  to  good  .  .  . 

1 

0 

3 
11 

2 
1 

0 
6 

1 

0 

3 
11 

2 
1 

0 
6 

'  Difficult  of  sale;  node- 

fine  to  finest 

1 

Q 

2 

4 

1 

9 

2 

4 

Young  Hyson 

JL             «/ 

1     8 
1     6 
2     4 

2 
1 
3 

6 
11 
8 

1 
1 

2 

8 
6 
4 

2 
1 

3 

6 
11 

8 

Saleable,  but  only 
f     small  quantities. 

in 

Imperial     

Gunpowder.  . 

TEA:  AND   THE   TEA   TRADE. 


The  foregoing  papers  and  tables,  taken  in  connection  with  the  introduc- 
tory remarks,  show,  with  perfect  clearness,  it  is  believed,  the  working  of  the 
trade,  as  between  China  and  Great  Britain. 


THE  TEA  TRADE  WITH  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

We  now  proceed  to  the  statistics  of  the  trade  with  this  country.  It  com- 
menced in  1784,  with  one  ship;  and  the  number  of  vessels  had  increased 
to  more  than  a  dozen  five  years  afterward ;  but  as  the  war  with  England, 
and  other  causes,  rendered  it  fluctuating  in  amount,  until  about  1820,  al-  sed 
though  it  had  always  the  elements  of  an  increasing  and  valuable  trade,  it  is 
thought  unnecessary  to  present  its  statistical  position  anterior  to  that  period. 

The  following  table  exhibits  the  imports  of  tea  from  China  into  the  Uni- 
ted States,  annually,  from  1821  to  1839,  from  the  records  of  the  Treasury 
Department,  years  ending  30th  September : — 

Pounds. 

1835 14,403,458 

1836 16,347,344 

1837 16,942,122 

1838. 14,411,337 

1839 9,296,679 


1821  

Pounds. 
4973463 

1828.  .  .. 

Pounds. 
7  689  305 

1822 

6  636  705 

1829 

6  595  033 

1823 

8  208  895 

1830 

8584799 

1824  

8919210 

1831 

6177557 

1825 

10  178  972 

1832 

9  894  181 

1826 

10072898 

1833 

14637  486 

1827.. 

5,868.828 

1834... 

16.267.852 

Total 195,106,125 

EXPORTS    IN    CHESTS    OF    TEA,    FROM    CANTON    TO    THE    UNITED    STATES,  COMMERCIAL    YEARS 

1832-33  TO  1842-3 — EACH  YEAR  ENDING  JUNE  30iH. 


Kind. 

188W, 

1831-4. 

Bohea  

13,665 

1,445 

Souchong  

34,815 

52,278 

Pouchong  

4,723 

9,181 

Pekoe  

2,563 

2,192 

Total  Black. 

55,766 

65,096 

Hyson  
Young  Hyson. 

14,248 
51,363 

23,787 
86,115 

Hyson  Skin..  .. 

31,736 

31,591 

Twankay  

4,872 

2,777 

Gunpowder.  .  . 

6,614 

10,154 

Imperial  

5,939 

9,424 

Total  Green.. 

114,772 

163,848 

Total  all  

170,538 

228,944 

Kinds. 

1818-9, 

Bohea  

2,898 

Souchong  

11,659 

Pouchong  

7,164 

Pekoe  

629 

Total  Black.   , 

22,350 

Hyson  

8,850 

Young  Hyson.  .  . 

65,918 

Hyson  Skin.  .  .  . 

8,245 

Twankay  

938 

Gunpowder  .... 

7,774 

Imperial  

6,691 

Total  Green 

98,416 

Total  all 

120,766 

1814-3, 

18S5-6, 

1836-7. 

18S7-8, 

779 

867 

2,183 

35,245 

64,760 

29,139 

52,135 

6,733 

4,619 

4,644 

7,720 

1,030 

2,273 

1,604 

3,186 

42,787 

72,519 

37,570 

63,041 

16,509 

16,346 

19,986 

13,112 

76,567 

83,426 

93,056 

70,146 

16,002 

23,086 

24,557 

20,986 

980 

1,299 

5,211 

561 

7,335 

8,002 

9,373 

8,343 

7,736 

7,444 

8,051 

6,911 

125,119 

139,603 

160,234 

120,059 

167,906 

212,122 

197,804 

183,100 

1839-40, 

1840-41. 

1841-41 

1842-41 

737 

37,434 

20,933 

20,778 

41,806 

9,447 

3,610 

6,387 

10,279 

1,936 

518 

627 

1,692 

48,817 

25,061 

27,792 

54,514 

17,817 

5,851 

9,492 

15.835 

128,301 

58,990 

85,000 

81,488 

j-  26,759 

11,455 
2,281 

17,579 

4,024 

j-  24,666 

15,243 

2,970 

8,021 

10,146 

13,169 

2,392 

6,315 

8,451 

201,289 

83,939 

130,431 

140,586 

250,106 

109,000 

158,223 

195,100 

182L 


24 


TEA    I    AND     THE     TEA     TRADE. 


Since  1843,  the  exports  statements  have  been  given  in  pounds,  and  as  are 
follows — the  year  ending  June  30th  : — 


Young  Hyson.. 
Hvson 

6,800,419 
539794 

9,182,281 
358915 

1846c. 

8,633,931 
9054666 

8,573,137 
754  243 

8,628,376 
881  434 

1849/ 

9,153,476 
645  248 

Hyson  Skin.  .  .  . 
Twankay 

1,690,219 
1  080486 

2,756,611 
1  002  991 

2,009,679 
480  160 

Imperial  .  .  . 

456,245 

674979 

54063 

956  381 

968  910 

710902 

Gunpowder  
S'g<fc  Congou.  . 
Pouchong  
Pecco  

597,088 
3,133,133 
799,622 
60,178 

941,065 
5,264,090 
1,318,731 
51,906 

1,253,686 
3,092,122 
918,315 
22  147 

1,334,472 
3,127,796 
435,224 
120,398 

1,102,243 
3,016,675 
372,124 
4,204 

834,988 
2,874,093 
550,456 
18513 

Orange  Pecco.  .  . 

19701 

13  288 

173  350 

45  176 

55  865 

Oolong 

132594 

296  031 

220  °94 

642  030 

526  355 

1  376  637 

Total  Green.    10,131,837  13,812,099  14,236,082  14,388,938  15,340,565  13,834,453 
Total  Black..    4,125,527     6,950,459     4,266,166     4,498,798     3,998,518     4,875,564 


Total  Pounds  14,257,364  20,762,558  18,502,284  18,887,736  19,339,083  18,710,017 
a  In  29  vessels ;  b  not  known ;  c  in  40  vessels  ;  d  in  41  vessels ;  e  in  31  vessels ;  /in 
38  vessels. 

COMPARATIVE  STATEMENT  OF  EXPORTS  OF  TEAS  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES,  FROM  1ST  JULY  TO 
25TH  SEPTEMBER,  1849,  AND  FOR  THE  CORRESPONDING  PERIOD  OF  1848. 


Young  Hyson.  .  .  . 
Hyson  

1848-9.      1849-ae. 

Pounds. 
174,275         140,893 
13,328             5,042 
103,778         168,281 
140,921         177,503 
10,700           28,204 
11,510            7,771 

OolODtr 

1848-9. 
Po 
310,450 
549,947 
47,925 

1849-50. 

unds. 
1,098,625 
382,293 
20,212 
97,263 

Souch'g  &  Cong. 
Pouchong  

Hyson  Skin  
Twankay         .  .  . 

Pekoe  . 

Total  Black.. 
Total  Green... 

Imperial            . 

908,322 
454,518 

1,598,397 
527,200 

Total  Green... 

454,518 

527,200 

Grand  total..      1,362,840       2,125,597 

Review  of       These  tables  complete  the  necessary  statistics  to  afford  a  clear  view  of  the 

and  the  influ-  progress  of  the  tea  trade  with  this  country.     It  will  be  observed,  by  the  first 

consumption    one,  that  in  the  period  of  twelve  years,  from  1821  to  1832,  inclusive,  the 

imports  of  tea  averaged  7,733,320  Ibs. ;  and  that  in  the  seven  years  from 

1833  to  1839,  inclusive,  the  average  had  risen  to  14,615,183  Ibs.,  or  almost 

double  the  first  period. 

Omitting  the  years  1839-40,  1840-41,  1841-2,  of  the  export  list,  as 
covering  a  period  during  which  the  trade  was  affected  by  the  war  between 
China  and  England,  and  taking  the  subsequent  seven  years  of  the  export 
statement — of  1842-43  to  the  last,  1848-49 — we  find  the  average  ship- 
ment to  this  country  was  18,137,006  Ibs.  per  annum. 

Contrasting  the  first-named  period  of  seven  years,  after  the  exemption  of 
tea  from  duty,  (in  1832,)  with  the  last-named,  we  find  in  the  former  an  av- 
erage import  of  14,615,183  Ibs.  against,  in  the  latter,  18,137,006  Ibs., 
which  shows  an  increase  of  but  3,521,823  Ibs.  per  annum,  after  an  interval 
of  sixteen  years  between  the  extremes  of  the  periods. 

This  result,  taken  without  examination,  would  be  surprising,  considering 
the  great  increase  of  the  population,  and  the  lessened  cost  of  tea  ;  but  these 
figures  cannot  be  taken  as  showing  the  actual  ratio  of  the  increase  of  con- 
sumption, for  reasons  which  we  shall  presently  state ;  and  there  is,  beside. 


TEA".      AND     THE     TEA     TRADE.  25 


a  reason  of  the  most  vital  importance  to  the  prosperity  of  the  trade,  at  all 
times,  which  explains  the  want  of  "  the  sympathy  of  consumption  with 
prices,"  which  is  shown  by  the  actual  slight  proportionate  increase,  (after  al- 
lowing for  the  changes  before  alluded  to,  and  hereafter  to  be  stated,)  of  the 
consumption  in  this  country,  as  compared  with  the  increase  in  England. 

This  reason  cannot  be  made  too  prominent,  for  upon  it  depends  the  pros-     faise  and 
perity  of  the  trade,  in  a  great  degree.     It  is  the  introduction  of  false  tea,  "deprecated'.6* 
and  of  refuse  qualities  of  the  genuine,  which  has  been  called  for  by  the  uni- 
versal and  constant  demand  in  this  country  for  a  "  cheap  "  article,  so  called, 
although,  as  has  been  already  shown  in  Part  First,  the  lowest  cost  tea  must 
necessarily  be  intrinsically  the  dearest.     This  general  seeking  for  the  lowest 

cost  article  has  induced  the  introduction  of  these  substitutes  for  the  genuine    The  lowest- 
cost  tea  intrin- 
and  healthful  qualities,  and  the  result  has  been  that  since  the  commencement     sicaiiy  the 

of  their  introduction  (in  1831-2)  the  increase  of  the  consumption  has  been 
seriously  interfered  with,  through  the  distaste  which  the  false  article  has 
given.     This  is  one  very  important  explanation  of  the  statistics  given  above 
— perhaps  the  most  so ;  but  it  is  believed  that  the  consumers,  generally,  are 
now  exercising  much  greater  discrimination  in  selecting  their  tea,  and  are 
using  the  sound  medium  qualities,  which  yield  so  much  larger  a  proportion 
of  good  drink,  for  the  same  amount  of  money,  than  the  lower  cost  teas.    It 
is  certain  that  if  the  change  be  once  made  by  any  person,  its  economical 
advantages  and  the  greater  healthful  properties  of  the  good  tea  will  prevent  Greater  health- 
a  return  to  the  low  cost  article.     It  will  have  been  observed,  by  the  tables  fjjj"jj.  ^ced6 
of  the  British  trade  already  presented,  that  the  consumption  in  Great  Britain         teas- 
has  increased  from  32,000,000  Ibs.,  in   1832,  to  about  48,000,000  Ibs.  in    comparison 
1847,  or  about  50  per  cent;  and  which  covers  a  year  less  than  the  same  °o7c™sump-e 
period  under  consideration  in  reference  to  this  country.     This  great  increase  f^J  a"  d  Et£f~ 
has  occurred  under  the  imposition  of  a  duty  of   more  than   200  per  cent ;     countl>y. 
and  this  furnishes  the  explanation  of  it,  as  well  as  the  confirmation  of  the 
views  we  have  taken  of  the  prominent  cause  for  the  slow  increase  of  the 
consumption  here : — The  exorbitant  duty  has  compelled  the  shipper  to  Eng- 
land to  send  but  few  poor  teas,  and  has  induced,  at  the  same  time,  the  con- 
sumer to  use  the  superior  qualities ;  and  the  further  and  natural  consequence 
has  been  an  increased  liking  for  tea,  resulting  in  the  great  increase  of   con- 
sumption.    Here  is  a  practical  evidence  of  the  excellence  of  the  better  qual- 
ities of  tea,  which  should  induce  every  one  to  make  the  change  suggested. 
In  this  country,  fortunately,  it  is  not  compelled  by  the  pressure  of  an  enor- 
mous tax,  which  in  Great  Britain  doubles  or  trebles  the  cost  of  tea,  and  thus 
renders  the  better  qualities  many  times  the  most  economical ;  but  in  no    The  disparity 

i  -,      .-,  /.    .,  shown  to  arise 

other  country,  perhaps,  do  the  mass  ot  the  consumers  regard  more  the  ques-  from  the  use  of 
tion  of  economy  than  in  this ;  and  although  the  disparity  is  not  enormous, 
as  in  England,  yet  the  pecuniary  gain  to  a  family,  in  a  course  of  years,  by 
the  use  of  the  medium  and  higher  cost  qualities,  (whose  cost  is  made  up  so 
much  less,  proportionately,  of  charges,  with  reference  solely  to  weight  or 
4 


26  TEA:     AND      THE      TEA     TRADE. 


bulk,)  will  be  so  great  that,  when  once  estimated  carefully,  will  determine 

the  choice,  even  without  the  aid  of  the  more  important  consideration  of  the 

greater  healthfullness  of  the  better  qualities  of  tea. 

As  the  rejec-  This  reason,  then,  we  think  it  has  been  shown,  explains  in  a  great  degree 
qualities  'pro-  the  disproportion  of  the  increase  in  the  consumption  in  this  country  and 
sumption  wm  England;  and  as  the  rejection  of  the  inferior  qualities  proceeds,  and  the  use 

of  the  better  extends,  we  look  to  see  a  gradual  and  permanent  increase  of 

the  consumption  here. 

But,  as  we  have  before  said,  we  think  the  actual  increase  of  consumption 
an  estimatl  o^f  exceeds  the  amount  shown  as  the  average  between  the  two  periods,  and  for 
t\on  shoukhJot  the  following  reasons  : — First.  The  imports  of  the  first-named  period  were 
the  accelSe  somewhat  in  excess  of  the  current  wants  of  the  country,  having  been  stim- 


the  apparent  prosperity  of  the  years  1834-7,  which  period  was 
1832>  succeeded  by  another  of  general  depression  and  disarrangement  in  business, 
during  which  the  consumption  was  seriously  checked,  and  for  which  reason 
large  stocks  were  held  over,  and  brought  into  the  consumption  of  the  sub- 
sequent years.  Secondly.  The  custom  was  then  common  or  general  amongst 
the  dealers  in  the  cities  and  large  towns,  to  hold  large  or  considerable  stocks 
at  all  times ;  whereas  a  new  system  of  business  has  gradually  come  into  use, 
in  that  respect,  under  which  the  dealers  rarely  purchase  beyond  their  imme- 
diate or  proximate  wants,  so  that  the  stock  "  carried  over  "  in  second  hands 
has  become  gradually  reduced  ;  and  it  is  understood  that  the  increased  fa- 
cilities for  communication  and  transportation  to  and  from  the  interior,  have 
produced  a  similar  change  amongst  the  country  dealers  generally.  It  is 
thus  that  consumption  has  been  encroaching  upon  stocks,  and  rendering  the 
statistics  of  the  trade,  so  far  as  they  are  attainable,  fallacious  as  the  basis  of 
estimates  of  actual  consumption.  Thirdly.  The  reexportation  of  tea  to  the 
North  of  Europe,  (whose  markets  had,  from  the  conclusion  of  the  war  of 
1812  down  to  1832  been  principally  supplied  by  American  ships  direct 
from  China,)  during  the  first  period  named  had  served  to  increase  the  ship- 
ments'from  China  to  this  country  to  a  much  greater  extent  than  during  the 
latter  period,  for  the  reason  that  since  the  war  between  England  and  China, 
there  has  grown  out  of  the  new  relations  with  it  an  increased  direct  trade 
with  several  of  the  countries  of  Europe,  and  especially  an  expansion  of  the 
export  of  tea  to  England,  from  which  last  the  wants  of  the  countries  named 
have  since  been  largely  supplied.  And  thus,  whilst  the  shipments  to  this 
country  have  been  shut  out  of  the  foreign  markets  alluded  to,  they  have 
R  d'cai  gradually  become  absorbed  by  the  increase  of  the  consumption  here ;  and 
ges  in  the  various  causes  have,  at  the  same  time,  been  working  the  change  alluded  to 

trade ;  and  re-  . 

duced    stocks  in  the  mode  of  conducting  the  business  on  the  part  of  the  dealers,  which 

in  the  hands  of  , 

the  dealers.      has  gradually  tended  to  the  reduction  of  their  stocks. 
The  process      The  process  of  these  changes, — first  in  the  system  of  the  dealers  here, 
an(l  secondly  in  the  export  trade  with  the  North  of  Europe — notwithstand- 
pri"  ing  the  concurrent  actual  reduction  of  stocks,  has  constantly  tended  to  de- 


TEA:      AND     THE     TEA     TRADE. 


press  prices  here ;  and  to  such  an  extent  has  this  effect  been  felt,  that  but 
for  the  prolonged  depression  of  prices  in  England,  growing  out  of  the  rail- 
way speculations,  and  other  causes  before  indicated,  and  the  consequent  les- 
sened cost  in  China,  the  import  would  have  fallen  materially  short  of  the 
current  wants  of  the  country.  That  the  import,  the  past  season,  was  below  im^ ort  be- 

J  L  low  the  cur- 

the  current  wants  of  the  country,  the  present  low  stock  m  first  and  second  rent  wants  of 

.         I    ,  .  .  the  country. 

hands,  as  contrasted  with  the  stocks  of  the  same  period  ot   previous  years, 
sufficiently  shows,  without  reference  to  the  fact  of  the  greatly  reduced  stock 
in  the  country  generally ;  nor  is  there  any  doubt  but  the  importers  might, 
with  proper  regard  to  the  actual  position   of  the  trade,  have  given  much  ™abmtygtopri- 
greater  stability  to  prices  during  the  season,  if  they  had  agreed  upon  a  new  ces- 
system  of  sales,  in  lieu  of  the  present  irregular  mode  of  offering  whole  car- 
goes hurriedly  at  auction.     It  is  apparent  that  some  systematized  mode  of    Hurried  and 

'  *  i       •  i   irregular  mode 

effecting  sales  is  required  to  counteract  the  new  system  ot  business  pursued     of  offering 
by  the  dealers,  who,  from  having  found  other  profitable  channels  for  their  at  auction  the 
means,  are  only  to  be  tempted  to  stock  themselves  as  they  formerly  did  by  the  trade, 
very  low  prices  for  teas.     It  is  for  this  reason  that  the  present  irregular  mode 
of  selling  by  auction  has  become  the  admitted  greatest  evil  of  the  trade. 
It  is  an  injury  to  all  parties,  and  undesired,  save  by  the  mere  speculator,  for 
it  causes  such  rapid  fluctuations  that  the  regular  dealers,  with  a  constant 
watchfulness,  cannot  so  conduct  their  business  as  to  give  satisfaction  to  their 
constituents  ;  and  thus  the  trade  is  kept  unsettled  all  over  the  country,  and 
the  consumption  checked  by  a  rivalry,  growing  out  of  this  state  of  things, 
to  undersell  each  other,  which,  again,  entails  the  other  evil  so  vital  to  the 
healthy  progress  of  the  consumption — the  introduction   of  the  false  or  low 
qualities. 

Such  are,  briefly,  the  evils  of  the  present  mode  of  conducting  sales ;  and     A  ,.emedy 
if  an  agreement  could  be  made  by  the  importers  for  periodical  sales  by  auc-     suggested. 
tion,  in  which  each  should  participate  in  proportion  to  his  stock,  and  in  the 
order  of  each  vessel's  arrival,  it  would  be  a  first  step  toward  stability  and 
regularity  in  prices ;  and  it  would  divest  the  trade,  in  a  considerable  degree, 
of  its  present  speculative  character. 

The  more  important  causes  for  the  general  depression  of  prices,  as  well 
as  for  the  rapid  fluctuations  in  them,  have  thus  been  shown. 


A  REVIEW  OF  THE  QUESTION  OF  PRICES,  AS  RULING  THE  SUPPLY. 

It  has  been  stated,  also,  that  but  for  the  depression  of  prices  in  China,  ofDepr^ssionin 
which  was  the  greater  from  having  been  immediately  preceded  by  a  consid-     China,  and 
erable  inflation  of  them,  and  which  was  produced  by  the  crises  in  England 
and  Europe,  in   1845-7,  and  the  Revolutions  of  1848-9,  the  importers 
could  not  have  kept  pace  with  the  wants  of  trade,  in  the  degree  that  they 
have,  under  the  reduced  scale  of  prices  here ;  and  it  is  now  proposed  to  pre- 
sent the  evidences  of  the  necessity  of  a  higher  scale  of  prices  in  future,  to 
keep  the  supply  adequate  to  the  actual  wants  of  the  country. 


28  TEA:    AND    THE    TEA    TRADE. 

f -*- — ^       In  proceeding  to  consider  the  question  of  prices,  and  to  estimate  duly 

favorhlan  ex-  every  circumstance  bearing  upon  it,  we  find  that  there  is  no  element  of  the 
pSsbeing'as  calculation  to  favor  an  expectation  of  the  continuance  of  the  low   prices  of 
loWyear.last    ^ae  Pas^  season  '•>  f°r  whether  we  inquire  into  the  cost  of  production   and 
shipment,  or  consider  the  probability  of  the  action  of  external  causes  upon 
the  producing  country ;  whether  we  regard  the  sure  increase  of  consump- 
tion here,  or  the  general  and  sympathetic  advance  in  the  prices  of  all  other 
necessaries,  and  of  almost  every  kind  of  propert}7,  produced  by   general 
prosperity,  we  are  brought  to  the  same  conclusion. 

We  have  seen  that  a  remarkable  concurrence  of  circumstances  served  to 
depress  prices  unnaturally  in  China  the  past  year ;  and  we  shall  find,  in 
taking  a  retrospective  view   of  the  trade,  that  nothing  short  of  a  similar 
coincidence  of  causes  has  ever  depressed  prices  in  a  like  degree.     We  must, 
indeed,  go  back  to  the  memorable  year  of  1837,  for  the  only  parallel  in- 
stance onsim!-  stance  since  the  expiration  of  the  East  India  Company's  charter  in  1834, 
"'  beyond  which  period  it  is  not  needful  to  inquire.      In  other  periods  we 
find  the  same  effects  in  modified  forms ;  and  without  entering  into  unneces- 
sary particulars,  since  access  may  be  had  by  any  one  to  the  published  prices 
current  of  the  China  newspapers  the  more  prominent  instances   of   great 
fluctuations  in  prices  in  China  will  suffice  to  show  that  in  the  two  periods  of 
1837-8  and  1848-9,  the  prices  were  depressed  below  the  cost  of  produc- 
tion.    Thus,  in  the  season  of  1837-8,  after  several  months  of  inaction  in 
Review  of     Canton,  during  which  the  crops  of  both  green  and  black  teas  had  come  in, 

prices  of  green 

teas  and  and  an  unusual  or  even  unparalleled  accumulation  of  stock  had  taken  place, 
1837-38,  and  the  prices  of  sound  country-packed  cargo- grade  Young  Hysons  was  reduced 
to  seventeen  taels,  of  Hyson  Skin  to  thirteen  taels,  and  of  Twankays  to  fif- 
teen taels,  with  proportionate  reductions  in  other  grades  and  kinds  of  green ; 
and  the  price  of  Ankoi  Souchongs  to  eleven  taels,  with  Ning  Yong  kinds  at 
fourteen  to  sixteen  taels.  These  were  the  lowest  points  for  sound  teas,  when, 
on  the  29th  January,  1838,  the  ship  "Orixa"  arrived  in  China,  with  letters 
of  September  6th,  from  Liverpool,  (it  being  seven  years  before  the  establish- 
ment of  steam  communication  overland  to  China,)  conveying  accounts  of  a 
reaction  and  considerable  rise  in  prices  in  England.  The  immediate  conse- 
quence was  a  general  rise  in  prices  at  Canton ;  and  before  the  immediate 
demand  for  teas  was  supplied,  prices  had  already  advanced,  on  the  9th  of 
February,  (eleven  days  after  the  receipt  of  the  account,)  to  twenty  taels  for 
"  cargo  "  Young  Hysons,  sixteen  taels  for  Hyson  Skins,  twenty-two  taels  for 
Twankays,  thirteen  taels  for  Ankoi  Souchongs,  and  other  grades  and  kinds 
in  almost  or  quite  an  equal  proportion ;  and  by  the  5th  of  March  the  same 
grade  of  Young  Hyson  had  risen  to  twenty-six  taels.  And  thus,  in  a  period 
of  thirty-five  days,  an  advance  of  about  50  per  cent  was  established,  al- 
though the  almost  entire  crops  of  the  year  were  on  hand  at  Canton. 

Omitting  the  subsequent  years,  until  after  the  treaty  of  peace  with  Eng- 
land, and  taking  about  the  same  period  of  each  of  the  following,  we  find  the 


AND     THE     TEA     TRADE. 


quotations  of  prices  as  follows  : — February  18th,  1843 — twenty-five  to  thirty 
taels  for  common  to  good  "  cargo  "  quality  Young  Hysons,  with  a  stock  of 
20,000  half  chests  ;  Hyson  Skins,  seventeen  to  twenty-one  taels  for  "cargo" 
qualities,  with  a  stock  of  17,000  chests  ;.  Twankays,  twenty  to  twenty-five 
taels  for  "cargo"  qualities,  with  a  stock  of  30,000  half  chests,  and  10,000 
chests.  January  10th,  1844 — twenty-five  to  twenty-eight  taels  for  ordinary 
to  fair  "  cargo  "  grades,  thirty  to  thirty -two  taels  for  strictly  good  "  cargo  " 
Young  Hysons  ;  fourteen  to  nineteen  taels  for  ordinary  to  good  "cargo"  Hy- 
son Skins  ;  twenty-two  to  twenty-four  taels  for  good  "  cargo "  Twankays. 
On  the  succeeding  6th  of  March,  when  it  was  clearly  ascertained  that  the 
crop  was  short  of  the  wants  of  the  consuming  countries,  the  prices  had 
risen  10  to  15  per  cent  for  the  several  kinds  before  quoted;  and  to  supply 
the  demand,  resort  was  then  had  to  mixing  the  Canton-made  teas  with  the 
genuine  country  tea ;  yet,  notwithstanding  this  means  of  augmenting  the 
export,  the  commercial  year  closed  (on  the  30th  of  June,  1844)  with  an 
aggregate  of  but  14,257,364  Ibs.  shipped  to  this  country,  or  more  than  two 
millions  short  of  the  previous  export,  and  of  the  estimated  wants  of  the 
country,  as  the  succeeding  season's  transactions,  which  we  proceed  to  quote, 
will  show.  November  25th,  1844.  "For  green  teas  the  demand  has  been 
active  for  both  England  and  the  United  States,  and  the  different  chops  have 
been  settled  almost  as  fast  as  they  have  arrived,  at  thirty  to  thirty-four  taels 
for  ordinary  to  good  '  cargo '  grades  of  '  Singo '  Young  Hysons,  and 
thirty-four  to  forty  for  ordinary  to  good  *  cargo '  Moyune  Young  Hysons," 
&c.,  &c. ;  "  And  on  comparing  these  quotations  with  those  of  last  season, 
we  find  they  show  an  advance  of  25  to  30  per  cent  on  all  kinds,  except 
Hyson  Skins,  which  are  10  to  15  per  cent  higher."  December  5th,  1844. 
A  further  rise  to  thirty-four  taels  for  the  lowest  quality  of  country-packed 
Young  Hysons,  and  to  thirty-eight  for  strictly  good  "  cargo "  Moyune,  al- 
though the  process  of  mixing  Canton-made  teas  had  already  been  resorted 
to  extensively.  These  high  prices  continued,  and  the  reductions  from  them 
were  only  for  mixed  teas ;  and  by  the  aid  of  this  process  of  mixing,  <the  ex- 
port was  swelled,  by  the  close  of  the  year,  to  20,751,583  Ibs.  to  this  coun- 
try, or  6,500,000  Ibs.  increase  upon  the  previous  year  !  Yet,  on  the  suc- 
ceeding 24th  of  December,  (1845,)  with  the  crop  all  come  in,  we  find  the 
prices  paid  were  twenty-seven  to  twenty-nine  taels  for  common,  to  thirty-one 
to  thirty -three  Tor  good  "cargo"  grades  of  Young  Hyson,  and  eighteen  to 
twenty-three  taels  for  common  to  good  "  cargo  "  Hyson  Skin,  and  extensive 
purchases  made  ;  and  at  the  close  of  the  commercial  year,  (June  30th,  1846) 
we  find  that  "  of  green  teas  there  are  no  country-packed  left,"  after  an  ex- 
port to  this  country  of  18,502,092  Ibs. 

In  November,  1846,  the  opening  prices  were  about  10  per  cent  lower 
than  in  1845  ;  and  we  find  the  season  closed  with  little  or  no  stock  of  coun- 
try-packed teas  left,  save  Twankays,  and  an  export  of  18,886,287  Ibs.  to 
this  country. 


30 


TEA:    AND    THE    TEA    TRADE. 


In  November,  1847,  the  prices  were  opened  10  to  15  per  cent  higher 
than  in  1846,  and  there  was  a  rise  subsequently,  and  afterward  a  decline  to 
about  the  opening  rates  for  "  cargo  "  qualities  of  Young  Hyson,  and  a  de- 
cline again  further  on  in  the  season,  to  about  twenty  taels  for  common  "  car- 
go." The  year  closed,  (June  30th,  1848,)  however,  with  no  stock  of  coun- 
try-packed teas  of  consequence  remaining,  with  an  export  of  19,339,133 
pounds  to  this  country. 

And  we  are  now  brought  to  the  past  season,  after  having  shown,  as  we 
believe,  that  no  other  presents  anything  like  a  parallel  to  it,  in  respect  to  a 
depression  of  prices  in  China,  save  the  other  memorable  year  of  1837-8. 

Proceeding  to  the  record  of  the  trade  the  past  season,  we  find  it,  under 
date  of  December  27th,  1848,  as  follows:  —  "A  very  active  business  has 
been  done  in  green  teas,  principally  for  America,  and  prices  are  eighteen  to 
twenty-one  taels  for  common  to  fair  '  cargo,'  twenty-four  to  thirty-four  taels 
for  good,  forty  to  forty-five  taels  for  fine  to  extra  fine  Young  Hyson  ;  ten  to 
thirteen  taels  for  common  to  fair  Hyson  Skin  ;  thirteen  to  fifteen  taels  for 
common  to  fair  Twankay." 

These  quoted  prices  will  about  correspond,  on  the  average,  with  those  of 
1837-38,  allowing  somewhat  for  the  lessening  of  the  export  duty,  which 
took  effect  in  1843  ;  and  subsequently  there  was  a  slight  decline  in  some 
kinds  as  well  as  a  somewhat  lowered  cost  for  very  low  qualities  at  Shang- 
hae.  Another  element  of  the  lessening  of  cost  at  both  ports  will  be  alluded 
to  hereafter.  Yet,  such  had  been  the  discouragement  from  the  depression 
of  prices  here,  that  this  low  scale  of  cost  in  China,  which,  it  has  been  shown, 
had  only  been  reached  once  before  since  1833,  did  not  offer  an  inducement 
to  shippers  sufficient  to  equalize  the  export  with  that  of  the  previous  season, 
the  year  having  ended  (June  30th,  1849)  with  an  export  to  this  country  of 
18,710,017  Ibs.  ;  the  greatest  deficiency,  as  compared  with  several  previous 
Lessened  ex-  years,  being  in  green  teas,  which  were  shipped  in  pounds,  13,834,453,  against 
tell  °  Q  15,340,565  Ibs.  in  1847-8. 

And  yet,  notwithstanding  this  lessened  shipment,  at  the  close  of  the  year, 
NO  stock  left  we  find  that  there  were  but  about  3,000  packages  of  all  kinds  of  green  tea 
left  on  hand  at  Canton,  with  very  little  at  Shanghae. 

It  might  be  shown  that  similar  fluctuations,  and  not  less  in  degree,  have 

fuatkfi^"  followed  similar  causes  in  respect  to  Congous  and  other  black  teas  ;*  but  the 

black  teas,     examples  given  are  such  as  best  apply  to  the  trade  in  this  country,  so  that, 

were  it  not  desirable  to  make  this  paper  as  concise  as  possible,  there  is  no 

necessity  to  extend  upon  these  points. 

This  review  of  the  Canton  market  will  be  found,  upon  careful  scrutiny,  to 
of  the  6prices  sustain  the  opinions  expressed  in  respect  to  a  deficiency  of  supply  as  a  con- 
sequence  of  the  recent  depressed  scale  of  prices  here.  It  will  show,  in  the 


duction    be 
yond     the 
\vants,and  con- 
sequent rise  in       *  The  September  accounts  from  China,  of  an  advance  of  about  20  per  cent  in  Con- 

gous, above  the  prices  of  last  year,  and  the  same  in  Ning  Yongs  and  Oolongs,  are  in- 
stances in  point. 


TEA:    AND     THE     TEA     TRADE.  31 

annually,  almost  complete  exhaustion  of  the  stock  of  teas  in  China,  the  in-  f A ^ 

adequacy  of  the  prices,  on  the  average  of  the  good  years,  to  stimulate  pro- 
duction in  any  degree  beyond  the  current  wants  of  the  consuming  countries, 
and  the  consequently  sudden  advance  in  prices  in  China,  which  succeeds  a 
return  to  prosperity  in  those  countries. 

A  simple  calculation,  indeed,  will  make  clear  to  the  apprehension  of  every      A  simple 
reader  that,  as  regards  the  lowest-cost  teas,  Hyson  Skins,  Twankays,  or  low  win  show  that 
black  teas,  it  is  impossible  to  produce  them  in  China  at  the  prices  of  last  cannot  be  sold 

at  20  cents. 

year,  t  or  the  export  duty  is  uniform  on  every  pecul  of  tea — two  taels  and 
five  mace,  or  with  cost  of  Sycee,  &c. — about  three  cents  per  pound ;  the 
wood  and  lead  for  boxes,  the  transportation  and  porterage,  (always  upon 
bulk  or  weight,  and  therefore  a  very  heavy  per  centage  on  poor  teas,)  and 
the  fees  at  the  passes,  equal,  at  least,  four  cents  per  pound ;  the  freight  to  this 
country  is  about  three  cents  per  pound  more ;  the  loss  in  weight  2  per  cent ; — 
so  that  ten  cents,  or  more,  per  pound,  is  incurred  in  charges  upon  the  lowest 
cost  tea,  leaving  the  balance  of  price  to  cover  the  value  of  the  tea,  including 
the  cost  of  growing,  curing,  and  packing  it,  and  of  the  interest  of  money 
and  commissions.  If  we  estimate  these  contributions  to  cost  at  ten  cents 
per  pound,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  poorest  tea  cannot  be  afforded,  at  any 
time,  below  twenty  cents  per  pound ;  nor  does  this  price  allow  anything  for 
damage  on  the  way  to  the  shipping  port,  or  for  profits  to  the  producer,  or 
the  Chinese  merchant.  These  are  the  unalterable  elements  of  the  calcula- 
tion of  cost ;  and  the  unerring  indications  shown  by  the  natural  adjustment 
of  supplies  to  prices,  as  exhibited  in  the  review  already  given  of  the  course 
of  the  market  at  Canton,  do  not  less  surely  demand  a  higher  scale  of  prices 
here. 

A  closer  examination  of  the  working  of  the  trade  in  China,  the  past  year,  Farther  evi- 
discloses  another  element  entering  into  the  lessening  of  the  cost  there,  (the 
existence  of  which  has  been  already  alluded  to,)  which,  as  serving  to  coun- 
teract  the  discouragements  on  this  side,  and  thus  to  enlarge  the  shipments 
hither,  furnishes  another  evidence  of  the  necessity  of  the  establishment  of 
higher  prices  as  the  only  sure  incentive  to  the  shipment  of  sufficient  sup- 
plies. 

It  consisted  in  the  lessened  cost  of  the  chief  mediums  of  the  purchase  of 
teas  for  this  country — exchange  upon  England  and  cotton  goods — both  of 
which  already  cost  more  ;*  so  that  any  calculation  of  a  permanent  reduction 
of  the  cost  of  tea  in  China,  based  upon  this  external  and  temporary  or  un- 
certainf  cause,  would  be  unsound. 


*  Cotton  goods  have  since  advanced  about  20  per  cent,  and  the  rate  of  bills  on  Lon- 
don is  several  per  cent  less  favorable  in  China. 

f  The  rate  of  exchange  in  China  depends  upon  the  condition  of  the  opium  trade 
chiefly,  than  which  none  other  presents  such  enormous  fluctuations.  And  the  cost  of 
cotton  goods  is  ruled  chiefly  by  the  cost  of  the  raw  material  here,  than  which  no  other 
article  presents  greater  fluctuations. 


32  TEA    :     AND     THE      TEA     TRADE. 


Following,  then,  this  exposition,  and  restricting*  our  view  to  the  state  of 
p-  tue  trade  here,  and  between  this  country  and  China,  we  find,  on  the  one 
Son  of6  pSl  hand>  that -in  a  period  of  sixteen  years  the  prices  there  have  but  twice 
reached  the  scale  of  last  year,  and  that  in  the  intervening  years,  with  a  scale 
of  prices  50  per  cent  or  more  higher,  there  has  been  no  accumulation  of 
stocks  there  at  the  end  of  the  respective  commercial  years,  although  the 
fluctuations  upon  this  side  have  repeatedly  induced  the  shipment  of  simu- 
lated preparations,  and  of  mixtures  of  these  with  genuine  tea,  by  which  we 
are  brought  to  the  inevitable  conclusion  that  the  average  prices*  of  the  four 
more  settled  years  of  the  trade  since  the  new  regulations  came  into  force, 
namely:  1843-4,  1844-5,  1845-6,  1846-7,  are  those  upon  which,  only,  we 
can  predicate  a  just  estimate  of  the  cost  to  the  producer,  or  an  approximate 
one  of  a  reasonable  scale  of  selling  prices  here.  This  scale  will  be  found, 
upon  examination,  much  higher  than  that  of  last  year  here,  for  green  teas 
especially.  And,  upon  the  other  hand,  we  find  in  this  country,  at  the  pres- 
ent moment,  a  smaller  stock  of  teas  than  has  been  held  since  1832,  not  only 
in  first  and  second  hands  in  this  city,  but  over  the  country  generally ;  and, 
at  the  same  time,  undeniably,  an  accumulation,  as  it  were,  of  the  various 
elements  of  a  general  prosperity,!  wholly  without  a  parallel,  and  which  is 


*  These  prices  have  been  already  quoted,  and,  adding  about  50  per  cent  to  cover  the 
cost  of  importation,  will  show  the  fair  scale  for  prices  here. 

f  From  the  regular  correspondent  of  the  Commercial  Advertiser,  wlio  is  known  to 
be  in  a  position  singularly  favorable  for  the  formation  of  correct  and  enlightened 
opinions : — 

LONDON,  December  14th,  1849. 

Looking  at  all  these  circumstances,  it  is  impossible  to  doubt  that  a  course  of  pros- 
perity is  commencing,  which  must  be  attended  by  a  general  firmness  in  prices,  and  ul- 
timately lead  to  a  degree  of  renewed  activity  and  enterprise  such  as  has  scarcely  been 
known  at  any  former  period.  Nor  is  there  the  slightest  danger,  at  least  for  some  years, 
of  any  mad  speculation.  Even  at  this  moment,  in  the  face  of  the  rapid  rise  in  Con- 
sols, and  of  all  other  descriptions  of  sound  investment,  railway  shares  remain  nearly 
uninfluenced,  and  there  is  such  an  all-pervading  distrust  of  the  concocters  of  public 
companies  of  every  kind  that  it  would  be  vain  for  these  parties  to  make  any  attempt 
upon  popular  credulity.  People  are  turning  their  eyes  everywhere  for  good  and  sound 
means  of  investment,  but  their  recent  lesson  has  been  too  severe  for  them  to  have  any 
thing  to  do  with  mere  speculation.  American  securities  are  improving  in  estimation  ; 
and  were  it  not  for  the  unclean  fame  of  Mississippi,  Florida  and  Michigan,  the  avidity 
for  them  would  doubtless  be  general ;  but  the  conduct  of  those  States  inspires  a  re- 
serve which,  perhaps,  at  the  present  time,  operates  beneficially  rather  than  otherwise. 
The  rush,  therefore,  is  toward  Consols,  and  so  strong  is  the  feeling  on  the  part  of  many 
persons  that  it  will  continue  and  send  them  up  to  a  price  which  will  enable  the  Chan- 
cellor of  the  Exchequer  to  reduce  the  interest  below  3  per  cent,  that  large  sums  have 
been  sold  and  reinvested  at  a  disparity,  in  a  different  stock,  which  has  the  advantage 
of  a  guarantee  that  it  shall  not  be  reduced  below  3  per  cent  until  after  the  lapse  of 
twenty  years  from  1854.  The  total  amount  of  Consols  is  upward  of  £500,000,000,  so 
that  a  reduction  of  even  a  quarter  per  cent  in  the  interest  would  produce  an  annual 
saving  to  the  country  of  £1,250,000. 


TEA:      AND     THE     TEA     TRADE.  33 

becoming  rapidly  infused  into  all  branches  of  business — whence,  with 

allowance  for  the  rapid  increase  of  the  population,  also,  we  may  reasonably 

infer  a  large  increase  of  the  consumption  of  tea.  teas?e°  giec 

Upon  this  view  of  the  trade,  we  are  brought  irresistibly  to  the  conclusion 
that  with  the  opening  of  the  trade  in  February,  we  shall  witness  an  advance 
in  the  prices  of  green  teas,  generally,  corresponding  somewhat,  at  least,  to  that 
in  Congous,  Souchongs,  and  other  black  teas,  last  season.  And  if  we  turn 
to  regard  external  causes  again,  we  find  that,  so  far  from  meeting  any  indi- 
cations favoring  low  prices  in  England,  or  a  lessening  of  the  demand  for  that 
country,  there  are  expectations  strongly  entertained  that  the  duty  will  be 
materially  reduced  there— the  immediate  consequence  of  which,  (or  even  a  Extern.ii 
strong  belief  of  its  probability,)  will  be  a  great  advance  in  prices  in  China,  causfnsg  itffvor- 
whilst  the  general  return  to  a  settled  state  of  trade  in  most  European  coun- 
tries, tends  to  the  same  end. 

In  short,  whether  we  view  the  subject  abstractly,  and  confine  our  inquiry       conclusion 
to  the  results  and  inferences  derived  from  statistical  data  ;  or  comprehensively,  of  arsument- 
and  regard  the  influences  which  are  inevitable,  and  as  powerful,  from  the 
concurrent  opening  of  a  career  of  unsurpassed  prosperity  to  the  commerce 
of  England  and  of  this  country,  we  are  brought  to  the  same  conclusion. 


In  now  concluding  these  papers,  so  far  as  they  relate  directly  to  this     Explanatory 
country,  the  writer  desires  to  say  that  the  remarks  made  are  only  such  as  Sthemwritor's 
the  examination  of  the  subject  has  elicited  ;  and  that  he  believes  no  one  who  ?S°.9e8   and 
gives  it  an  equally  close  one  can  escape  the  same  convictions.     Nor  have 
they  been  made  with  any  purpose  or  expectation  of  suddenly  or  temporarily 
raising  prices  beyond  a  fair  and  proper  standard  of  value  proportionate  to 
the  cost,  but  with  the  hope  of  aiding  somewhat  in  the  establishment  of  a 
scale  of  prices,  so  adjusted  to  reasonable  expectations  that  it  shall  be  more 
uniform — less  subject  to  rapid  and  great  fluctuations — than  the  market  has 
presented  the  past  two  years. 

Upon  this  depends  the  prosperity  of  the  trade,  and  the  increase  of  the 
consumption  of  tea,  for,  besides  the  injury  which  an  unsettling  of  prices 
causes,  out  of  these  great  fluctuations  spring  the  inducements  to  ship  false 
and  very  inferior  kinds. 

There  are,  undoubtedly,  causes  for  considerable  variations  in  prices  insep- 


Of  course  it  must  be  understood  that  all  these  considerations  are  to  be  taken  sub- 
ject to  the  possibility  of  disturbance  from  war  or  other  violent  convulsions.  Apart 
from  any  possible  calamities  of  that  nature  everything  is  bright,  and  there  never 
was  a  time  when  the  attention  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  might  be  more  safely  or  vig- 
orously directed  to  great  enterprises.  So  inspiring,  indeed,  is  the  prospect  in  this  re  • 
spect,  that  I  feel  certain  many  large  designs  are  on  the  eve  of  formation  and  accom- 
plishment, and  that  a  wonderful  epoch  in  human  progress  will  date  from  the  com- 
mencement of  the  latter  half  of  the  present  century. 


34  TEA!     AND     THE     TEA     TRADE. 


arable  from  the  nature  of  the  trade,  and  arising  from  the  great  distance*  of 
the  only  producing  country ;  but  when,  after  a  proper  allowance  for  these, 
we  find  prices  depressed  materially  below  the  cost  of  production,  as  was  the 
case  in  Congou-Souchongs,  and  some  other  black  teas,  in  1847  and  1848, 
and  is  now  the  case  in  green  teas,  it  is  proper  to  anticipate,  by  degrees,  the 
natural  rise  that  must  take  place  in  prices. 

It  will  be  seen  that  no  statement  made  rests  upon  the  writer's  opinion, 
unsupported  by  evidence  from  other  sources.  If  the  papers  assist,  in  how- 
ever moderate  a  degree,  to  effect  the  beneficial  changes  so  much  required,  to 
give  regularity  to  the  trade,  the  writer  will  feel  fully  repaid,  as  he  will  if 
those  who  read  are  influenced  to  introduce  more  extensively  the  wholesome 
beverage — 

"  That  cheers,  but  ne'er  inebriates." 


POSTSCRIPT. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  speech  of  Mr.  Brodribb,  on  Taxation,  de- 
livered at  Liverpool,  November  22d,  1849,  before  the  Financial  Reform  As- 
sociation of  England,  convey  so  direct  and  forcible  a  confirmation  of  the 
opinions  and  statements  advanced  in  the  first  part  of  this  article,  (published 
in  the  January  number,)  upon4he  subject  of  the  duty  upon  tea  in  England, 
as  well  as  in  regard  to  the  beneficial  influences  of  the  extended  use  of  the 
leaf,  as  contributing  to  temperance  and  to  the  domestic  and  social  comforts 
of  the  people,  and  hence  to  their  refinement,  and  are  at  the  same  time  so 
interesting,  as  furnishing  a  partial  exposition  of  the  working  of  that  kind  of 
taxation  in  England ;  that  their  being  appended  hereto  will  no  doubt  be  ac- 
ceptable to  the  reader,  whilst  the  writer  may  consider  himself  fortunate  to 
be  able  to  present,  at  the  conclusion  of  his  paper,  so  respectable  and  com- 
plete an  endorsement  of  the  opinions  he  has  ventured  to  advance  in  its  first 
part,  the  writing  of  which  here  (in  November)  must  have  been  about  simul- 
taneous with  Mr.  Brodribb's  preparation  of  the  materials  of  his  speech  at 
Liverpool. 

The  value  put  upon  what  Mr.  Brodribb  says,  is  shown  by  the  following 
editorial  notice  of  his  remarks,  extracted  from  the  Liverpool  Times  of  No- 
vember 24th. 

"  There  are  few  speakers  at  a  public  meeting  heard  with  greater  attention  than 
Mr.  Brodribb.  He  pours  out  the  resources  of  a  massive  mind  in  a  flood  of 
earnest  eloquence,  which  involuntarily  arrests  attention,  less  in  reference  to  its 
rhetorical  adornments  than  from  the  impressive  manner  which  imparts  to  all  he 
says  a  profound  and  practical  value.  Few  men  can  arrange  an  army  of  statistics 

*  Though,  thanks  to  Sea  Witches,  (whether  so-called,  or  Houquas,  MontauJcs,  or 
Samuel  Russells,}  and  to  knowing  salt-water-men,  the  distance  is  so  shortened  in  time 
as  to  be  recognized  as  a  new  feature  in  the  trade. 


TEA:     AND    THE     TEA     TRADE.  35 

with  more  force  and  beauty  ;  and  the  evident  honesty  of  his  purpose — the  cer- 
tain convictions  of  his  own  mind — force  on  his  hearers  a  conclusion  that  he 
enunciates  a  succession  of  truths,  self-evident  and  powerfully  persuasive.  This 
is  the  more  impressed  on  the  public  mind  from  the  unfrequency  of  his  appear- 
ance, despite  the  temptation  within  and  without — a  ready  delivery  and  an  eager- 
ness to  applaud.  He  comes  forth  not  to  "  show  off,"  but  to  do  good. 

"  Why  tax  tea  and  coffee,  which  are  the  very  antidotes  to  spirits,  and  a  free 
and  cheap  use  of  which  would,  in  all  probability,  supersede  the  use  of  spirits  ? 
********* 

"  Next  come  the  articles  that  minister  so  much  to  our  domestic  and  social 
comforts — sugar,  tea  and  coffee.  Where  is  the  home,  however  humble,  or  the 
board,  however  frugal,  that  does  not  think  itself  unfurnished  where  these  are 
wanting  ?  The  people  of  all  classes  covet  them,  and  the  very  poor,  perhaps,  the 
most  of  all.  The  reason  may  not  be  difficult  to  assign.  The  meals  they  fur- 
nish are  produced  the  most  readily,  and  with  the  least  trouble ;  added  to  which, 
they  are  great  promoters  of  sociality,  without  leading  to  intemperance  or  excess 
of  any  kind.  Indeed,  perhaps  nothing  has  tended  so  much  to  civilize  and  soften 
the  ruder  manners  of  the  uneducated  classes  as  the  use  of  these  foreign  pro- 
ducts. They  have  carried  refinement  with  them,  both  of  habits  and  mind,  wher- 
ever their  use  has  been  continuous  ;  the  pot-house  and  Ihe  wrangling-club  have 
found  in  them  their  greatest  enemies.  The  drunkard  by  them  has  been  re- 
claimed— the  truant  from  home  restored.  Desolate  hearths  have  been  made 
glad,  and  weeping  eyes  dried  up,  as,  by  their  influence,  husband,  son,  or  brother 
has  been  won  back  to  the  endearing  delights  of  home.  Many  is  the  child  who 
dates  from  such  a  period  the  first  anxious  care  of  a  father  regarding  his  educa- 
tion and  morals.  From  that  day  the  father  discharged  his  highest  duties  to  the 
State ;  and  how  has  the  State  repaid  him  ?  By  taxing  these  three  articles  to- 
gether to  the  amount  of  £11,000,000  annually — ten  times  the  amount  of  the 
tax  contributed  by  the  costly  protected  land. 

********* 

"  Here  we  have  an  amount  of  nearly  forty  millions*  weighing  on  the  springs  of 
industry.  Taking  into  account  the  profit  that  must  necessarily  be  put  upon  these 
forty  millions,  for  employment  and  risk  of  such  capital,  it  will  amount  to  fully  fifty 
millions  taken  from  the  people.  This  is  what  Porter  describes  as  '  weighing 
with  destructive  force  upon  the  springs  of  industry ;'  and  he  is  right  in  so  de- 
scribing it.  It  destroys  industry  by  preventing  its  development.  A  small  huxter, 
who  could  find  £3  10s.  to  buy  his  chest  of  tea  with,  and  who,  by  selling  that  tea 
at  Is.  Id.  per  Ib.  profit  could  clear  20s.,  or,  at  Id.  per  oz.  could  clear  £2,  must  fore- 
go the  profit  of  this  industry  altogether,  unless  he  can  command  £9  3s.  Id. 
wherewith  to  pay  the  duty.  The  consequence  is,  that  he  is  doomed  to  idleness, 
and,  most  likely,  to  pauperism,  and  thus  becomes  a  burden  on  the  resources  of 
others,  instead  of  being  able  to  contribute  himself  out  of  such  earnings  to  a  di- 
rect tax,  and  thus  diminish  the  burden  of  others.  But  this  is  not  the  only  evil  of 
the  tax.  The  effect  of  it  is,  that  the  tea,  instead  of  being  sold  Is.  Id.,  is  sold  at  4s. 
per  Ib.,  and  instead  of  Id.  per  oz.,  it  is  sold  at  3d.  per  oz. ;  and  at  the  latter  rate 
does  not  pay  the  dealer  so  good  a  profit,  in  proportion  to  capital  employed  and 


*  This  sum  of  forty  millions  includes  the  taxes  on  several  other  "  necessaries  of  life." 


TEA:    AND    THE   TEA   TRADE. 


risk  run,  as  at  the  former  rate.  The  increased  price  is  no  extra  gain  to  the  dealer ; 
it  is  all  caused  by  the  tax,  and  the  additional  taxation  of  the  indirect  system. 
Besides,  it  prevents  any  but  men  of  large  means  from  engaging  in  the  trade,  and, 
to  a  certain  extent,  creates  a  virtual  monopoly.  This  property  is  not  peculiar  to 
the  tea  tax,  only  that  the  tax  on  tea  is  heavier  than  any  other — save  the  tobacco 
tax." 


ERRATUM. 

The  following  announcement  was  omitted  by  the  printer  at  the  conclusion  of 
Part  Second : — Another  paper  upon  this  subject  will  appear  in  a  future  number 
of  this  Magazine : — some  statistics  of  the  trade  with  Russia,  Holland,  and  other 
countries,  will  be  presented,  as  well  as  some  further  remarks  upon  the  subject 
generally. 


POSTSCRIPT,— JAN.  23d,  1850. 

IN  the  passage  of  these  papers  through  the  press  the  several  mails  from  China 
and  England,  and  the  weekly  reports  upon  this  market,  have  furnished  marked 
confirmations  of  the  opinions  expressed  by  the  writer  upon  several  of  the  more 
important  points  of  the  subject.  Some  of  these,  as  confirmatory  of  the  First 
Part,  having  reached  in  time  for  the  Second  Part,  have  been  thereto  annexed ; 
and  the  following,  which  have  since  been  received,  are  here  given  to  further  as- 
sist the  reader  toward  a  correct  understanding  of  the  present  position  of  the  Tea 
Trade. 

A  writer  in  the  London  Morning  Chronicle,  under  date  of  Dec.  21st,  upon  the 
present  position  of  the  British  Trade  with  China,  thus  speaks  upon  the  question 
of  the  duty  on  Tea : — 

"  The  several  channels  which  give  employment  to  British  capital  in  connection 
with  China,  and  which  it  should  be  the  aim  of  our  Legislature  to  protect  and 
advance,  may  be  reduced  in  the  main  to — 

"  First,  the  exchange  of  British  manufactures,  Indian  cotton  and  opium  for  tea 
and  silk,  involving  thereby  the  interests  of  the  manufacturer,  the  welfare  of  our 
Indian  possessions,  the  interests  of  the  shipowner,  and,  what  is  much  more  to 
be  feared  is  more  narrowly  consulted  than  any  of  these,  and  greatly  to  their  in- 
jury, the  Exchequer. 

"  Secondly,  to  the  trade  conducted  on  native  and  foreign  account,  at  all  times 
upon  British  capital,  between  the  several  ports  on  the  coast  of  China,  and  be- 
tween that  country  and  the  neighboring  islands  and  places  in  the  eastern  seas ; 
thereby  involving  the  same  interests  as  in  the  former  case,  inasmuch  as  capital 
employed  in  this  trade  is  derived  from  the  same  sources  as  in  that  instance. 

"  It  does  not  call  for  very  acute  discernment  to  account  for  the  slow  progress 
towards — nay,  rather  the  retrogression  from — an  extended  commerce  with  China. 
To  arrive  at  our  true  position  in  mercantile  intercourse  with  that  country  it  is 
necessary  that  the  precise  degree  of  estimation  in  which  our  manufactures  are 
held  in  China  be  understood,  as  also  the  capabilities  of  our  market  to  take  off 
the  produce  supplied  by  the  Chinese  at  prices  which  will  remunerate  the  produ- 


TEA:    AND   THE    TEA    TRADE. 


cer ;  there  ia  no  limit  to  the  extent  that  our  commerce  with  that  country  might 
be  carried,  if  under  a  reciprocal  and  unoppressive  scale  of  taxation.  But  if  we 
find  that  our  markets  do  not  admit  of  a  remunerative  price  reaching  the  China- 
man without  our  manufacturer  submitting  to  a  loss  upon  his  manufactures,  is  it 
not  for  our  legislators  to  look  into  the  scale  of  duties  on  which  both  our  goods 
are  admitted  into  China  and  theirs  into  this  country  ?  What  do  they  find  ?  That 
while  our  manufactures  are  subject  to  the  nominal  duty  of  5  per  cent,  we  en- 
cumber their  returns  with  a  duty  varying  from  80  to  600  per  cent  on  tea,  and 
upon  the  average  consumption:  of  the  country  200  per  cent. 

"  Can  it,  then,  be  matter  of  surprise  that  our  trade  with  China  has  not  real- 
ized former  anticipations  ?" 

The  foregoing  remarks,  as  well  as  the  speech  of  Mr.  Brodribb,  already  an- 
nexed to  the  Second  Part,  show  the  correctness  of  the  opinions  expressed  by  the 
writer  upon  the  question  of  the  duty  in  England. 

The  following  extract  from  the  circular  of  Messrs.  Baring,  Brothers  &  Co., 
of  London,  of  December  28th,  announcing  a  speculation  in  common  Congous, 
whether  based  upon  an  expectation  of  a  change  in  the  duty,  or  upon  the  ques- 
tion of  supply,  furnishes  a  confirmation  of  the  opinions  of  the  writer  upon 
either  point. 

"TEA. — A  public  sale,  20th  inst.,  when,  of  1 9,800 ^packages  put  up,  about 
4,300  were  sold;  prices  unaltered,  except  Scented  Caper  and  Orange  Pekoe, 
which  declined  Id.  a  2d.  A  speculative  demand  for  common  Congou  has  since 
sprung  up,  and  extensive  transactions  have  occurred,  upward  of  20,000  chests 
having  changed  hands  at  prices,  showing  an  advance  of  id.  a  Id. ;  in  fair  mer- 
chantable common  Congou,  nothing  is  now  to  be  had  under  10d.,  and  not  much 
thereat." 

And  the  opinion  expressed  as  to  the  unusual  absorption  of  the  stocks  of  tea 
over  the  country  generally,  is  fully  sustained  by  the  following  reliable  reporta 
upon  this  market  from  the  Commercial  List  Price  Current,  of  Messrs.  Burritt. 

"  TEAS. — There  continues  a  very  good  demand  for  both  green  and  black,  un- 
usual for  this  period  of  the  season,  and  we  notice  further  sales  of  800  half-chests 
Young  Hyson,  Hyson  Skins,  and  Twankay,  by  a  recent  arrival,  589  chests  Sin- 
gapore Ankoi,  from  Liverpool,  and  501  chests  Hyson  Skin,  just  received,  all  at 
full  prices." — December  22d. 

"  TEAS. — Have  continued  in  good  request,  and  we  note  sales  of  1,500  half- 
chests  black  and  1,000  half-chests  green,  in  lots,  the  former  to  go  out  of  the 
market  at  very  full  prices.  The  residue  of  the  Samuel  Russell's  cargo  of  black 
is  announced  for  auction  9th  instant." — January  5th. 

"  TEAS. — There  is  a  firm  buoyant  feeling  in  the  market  for  both  green  and 
black,  and  in  some  instances  improved  prices  have  been  realized.  We  note 
sales  of  2,500  half-chests  Ningyong  and  Oolong,  the  residue  of  the  Samuel 
Russell's  cargo;  1,000  half-chests  Young  Hyson,  and  5  a  600  half-chests  Hyson 
Skin  and  Twankay.  The  cargo  of  the  Houqua,  recently  arrived,  will  hot  be 
offered  at  present." — January  18th. 

"  TEAS. — The  reduced  stock  of  both  green  and  black  has  induced  great  firm- 
ness in  the  market,  and  given  rise  to  a  speculative  feeling ;  and  we  note  sales  of 
1,000  half-chests  Young  Hyson,  mostly  low  grade;  600  half-chests  Hyson  Skin 
and  Twankay,  and  a  few  Hyson ;  and  new  crop  black  from  the  recent  arrival, 
all  at  very  full  and  even  slightly  improved  prices." — January  23d. 


38  TEA  '.     AND     THE     TEA     TRADE. 


POSTSCRIPT  SECOND,— JANUARY  26TH,  1850. 

The  following  extract  from  the  Circular  of  Messrs.  Baring,  Brothers  &  Co-, 
London,  of  January  llth,  5  P.  M.,  (just  at  hand  per  Niagara,)  still  further  con- 
firms the  opinions  of  the  writer. 

"  TEA  has  experienced  an  animated  speculative  demand,  and  large  sales  have 
been  made  in  Congou,  from  lOid.  up  to  Is.  9d. ;  and  in  the  lower  qualities  of 
green,  common  Hyson  and  Young  Hyson,  especially  the  former,  from  Is.  4d.  to 
Is.  6d. — the  latter,  8i  d.  to  Is.  per  pound." 


TEA:  AND  THE  TEA  TRADE. 


AS    PUBLISHED    IN    THE    MAY    ISSUE    OF    THE    MERCHANTS7    MAGAZINE. 


Two  Papers  upon  this  subject  were  published  in  the  January  and  Feb-  Introduction* 
ruary  issues,  respectively,  of  this  Magazine,  and  have  since  been  republished 
together  in  pamphlet  form,  in  two  editions.      In  the  first  edition  of  the 
pamphlet  the  following  notice  appeared : — 

"ERRATUM. 

"  The  following  announcement  was  omitted  by  the  printer  at  the  conclusion 
of  part  second: — Another  paper  upon  this  subject  will  appear  in  a  future  num- 
ber of  this  Magazine : — some  statistics  of  the  trade  with  Russia,  Holland,  and 
other  countries,  will  be  presented,  as  well  as  some  further  remarks  upon  the 
subject  generally." 

And  it  is  now  proposed  to  conclude  the  series  with  the  present  Paper. 

The  subject  has  attracted,  by  its  intrinsic  importance,  a  great  measure  of  t^ted  to  the 
attention  from  others  as  well  as  mere  commercial  readers  ;  and  the  writer       subject, 
hopes  that  it  will  hereafter  be  presented  in  a  more  worthy  and  attractive 
form,  by  practiced  and  skillful  writers, — those  who  are  accustomed  to  treat 
of  political  economy,  or  who  are  the  active  promoters  of  temperance, — in 
order  that  a  knowledge  of  it  may  be  more  widely  diffused,  and  the  use  of 
the  beverage  become  more  general.     It  has  been  appropriately  spoken  of — 
in  an  editorial  notice  of  these  papers  in  the  Evening  Post — as,  "  the  drink     "Evening 
characteristic  of  modern  and  improved  civilization,  used  alike  by  rich  and 
poor — social,  refreshing,  humanizing  Tea."     And  in  the  Literary  World,  in     "  Literary 
an  appreciative  notice  of  considerable  length,  it  is  thus  spoken  of: — "  Among 
all  articles  of  luxury  none  has  stood  its  ground  more  firmly  than  tea,  none, 
probably,  has  been  productive  of  more  refinement,  has  been  so  pure  and 
healthful  in  its  associations.     To  extend  these  influences  is  a  work  of  phi-    , 

Major  Noah. 

lanthropy,  as  well  as  of  mercantile  profit." 

Major  Noah  has  recently  published  the  following  decided  opinion  in  favor 
of  tea.  It  appears  in  answer  to  a  question  put  by  a  correspondent,  who 
adopts  the  Chinese  name  of  Ching  : — 

"  CHING. — '  Which  do  you  prefer  as  a  domestic  beverage,  tea  or  coffee  ?'  Tea, 
by  all  means.  Tea  is  associated  with  rest  after  a  day's  toil,  of  happy  firesides, 


40  TEA:    AND     THE     TEA     TRADE. 


of  temperance,  and  of  peace,  A  liberal  use  of  the  cup,  which  cheers  but  does 
not  inebriate,  is  calculated  more  than  that  of  any  other  article  to  weaken  the 
lures  of  intemperance,  and  to  attract  the  laborer  from  the  tavern  to  his  domestic 
hearth." 

interest  attach-  T^e  unusua^  measure  of  attention  given  to  this  subject,  at  present,  in 
ed  to  it  in  Eng-  England,  has  been  alluded  to  in  presenting  the  speech  of  Mr.  Brodribb,  in 
a  Postscript  to  Part  Second,  and  subsequent  accounts  from  there  indicate 
that  the  interest  in  it  has  suffered  no  diminution — as  the  following  humorous 
report  of  the  interview  of  the  "  Tea  Deputation  "  with  Lord  John  Russell, 
the  Premier,  from  a  recent  issue  of  that  "  mirror  of  the  times" — " PUNCH  " 
— will  show. 

"THE  TEA  DEPUTATION. 

The  tea  de  u-     "®n  Wednesday,  the  16th  of  January,  a  deputation  from  Liverpool,  headed  by 
tation  wait  on  its  members,  waited  on  Lord  John  Russell  and  the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer, 

ment,  and  are  with  the  laudable  desire  of  obtaining  their  consent  to  a  reduction  in  the  Tea 
humorously      j    , 
described  by     <"lty. 

44 Punch"  The  business  commenced  by  a  few  words  from  Sir  Thomas  Birch,  who  was 
very  appropriately  selected  on  this  occasion,  for,  as  the  Premier  (must  have  men- 
tally) remarked,  "Birch  has  always  been  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  principal 
representatives  of  Tea  in  this  country." 

Mr.  Cardwell  went  into  the  arithmetic  of  Tea,  and  proved  that,  while  in  the 
United  Kingdom  the  consumption  amounted  to  only  a  pound  and  three  quarters 
per  head,  it  was  nine  pounds  per  head  per  annum  in  the  Australian  colonies. 
This,  at  a  spoonful  each,  and  one  for  the  pot,  gave  several  million  cups  of  tea 
to  the  colonists,  while,  at  the  same  strength  of  brewing,  there  would  be  little 
more  than  a  dish  (of  Tea)  per  diem  for  the  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain. 

Mr.  Edward  Brodribb  enlarged  on  the  social  merits  of  Tea,  and  insisted  that, 
although  mere  spoons  had  sometimes  made  a  stir  in  Tea,  there  was  now  a  small 
but  determined  Tea  party  springing  up  in  the  kingdom,  and,  with  all  respect,  he 
would  say  that  the  Government  would  eventually  be  teased  out  of  the  duty. 

Another  member  of  the  deputation  took  a  view  of  the  matter  in  reference  to 
the  agricultural  interests,  urging,  that,  so  long  as  the  genuine  Tea  was  kept  out 
of  the  country  by  the  heavy  duty,  the  hedges  of  the  farmer  would  never  be  safe 
from  those  depredators  who  plucked  a  spurious  sort  of  Twankay  from  the  sloe, 
and  stole  for  the  Tea  market  that  which  was  neither  Hyson  nor  His'n, 

After  a  few  further  remarks  from  other  members  of  the  deputation,  Lord 
John  Russell  courteously  acknowledged  himself  the  friend  of  Tea,  and  though 
some  called  it  mere  slop,  sent  over  by  our  foes  the  Chinese,  he  was  not  one  of 
those  who  regarded  it  as  a  "  weak  invention  of  the  enemy,"  After  intimating 
his  willingness  to  take  a  Tea  leaf,  if  practicable,  out  of  the  book  of  free  trade, 
he  assured  the  deputation  that  he  and  his  friend,  the  Chancellor  of  the  Exche- 
quer, would,  some  day,  after  dinner,  take  Tea — into  their  best  consideration." 

The  plain  prose  account  of  the  same  is  given  in  the  London  Spectator,  of 
And  in  plain  January  19th,  as  follows: — 

prose   by    the  .    • 

44  Spectator."  "  A  deputation,  representing  the  mercantile  interests  of  Liverpool,  the  Magis- 
trates and  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  Edinburgh,  and  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce of  Glasgow,  had  an  interview  with  Lord  John  Russell  and  the  Chancellor 
of  the  Exchequer,  on  Wednesday,  at  the  Treasury,  to  urge  a  reduction  of  the 


TEA:    AND    THE   TEA   TRADE. 


41 


duties  on  tea.  Sir  Thomas  Birch  and  Mr.  Cardwell,  members  for  Liverpool,  in- 
troduced  the  deputation.  The  usual  arguments  in  favor  of  reducing  the  duties 
on  tea  were  reinforced  by  the  explanation  of  the  increasing  difficulties  found  in 
obtaining  an  article  of  exchange  for  our  increasing  exports  to  China  ;  the  bal- 
ance of  trade  on  the  past  year  is  $10,000,000  ;  and,  unless  the  import  of 
tea  is  increased,  we  can  only  diminish  that  balance  by  checking  our  exports.  The 
propitious  .state  of  the  revenue  was  dwelt  on  as  favorable  to  the  hopes  of  the 
deputation.  Lord  John  Russell  courteously  listened  to  all  that  was  said  ;  prom- 
ised '  best  consideration  ;'  and  declined  '  to  give  a  definite  answer.'  " 

And  some  extracts  from  the  circular  of  an  extensive  brokerage  house,  in 
London,  of  January  5th,  will  serve  to  show,  in  concise  and  ratber  nervous 
terms,  the  merits  of  the  duty  question  :  — 

."  OBSERVATIONS    ON  TEA. 

"  What  pays  the  enormous  duty  of  2s.  2£d.  per  lb.,  which  is  more  than  300  per 
cent  on  many  qualities?  —  Tea. 

What  yields  a  revenue  to  our  government  of  five  millions  and  a  half  per  an- 
num?  —  Tea, 

Now  if  the  sum  realized  by  this  oppressive  tax  were  paid  into  the  Bank  of  Eng- 
land in  gold,  it  would  take  one  of  the  clerks  four  years,  twenty-one  weeks,  and  five 
days  to  count  and  weigh  it  according  to  their  custom. 

What  made  our  present  gigantic  East  India  Company  ?  (Some  here  we  know 
will  diifer  in  opinion,  but  we  say  it  could  not  have  been  done  without)  Tea. 

What  has  had  fewer  arguments  employed  in  its  favor,  when  more  might  have 
been  used  than  on  almost  any  other  article  subject  to  an  Import  Duty  ?  —  Tea. 

What  article  was  untouched  by  Peel's  Tariff?  (While  almost  every  other 
article  either  underwent  some  change,  or  had  the  duty  taken  off.)  —  Tea. 

What  article  is  that  on  which  the  duty  to  the  poor  man  is  300  per  cent,  while 
the  rich  man  only  pays  from  30  to  60  per  cent1?  —  Tea. 

What  article  of  consumption  is  now  paying  the  expense  of  more  travelers 
than  any  other?  —  Tea. 

What  article  in  the  grocery  business  pays  for  all  the  loss  of  bad  debts,  &c.  ?—  - 
Tea. 

What  has  made  some  of  our  London  Bankers  ?-^-Retailing  of  Tea. 

What  has  made  some  Members  of  Parliament  ?  —  Retailing  of  Tea. 

What  has  enabled  others  to  purchase  landed  estates  ?  —  Retailing  of  Tea. 

"  In  order  rightly  to  estimate  the  advantages  of  Tea,  we  must  not  look  at  its 
value  abstractedly,  but  on  the  influence  it  exercises  on  the  country  at  large.  We 
look  upon  its  use  as  one  of  the  greatest  counteracters  of  intemperance,  for  the 
man  who  enjoys  his  tea  with  his  family  is  not  a  person  who  seeks  the  stimulus 
of  the  tavern,  and  in  the  lower  classes,  the  public  house  and  the  gin-shop.  We 
believe  that  Father  Mathew  did  good  service  to  his  and  our  country;  but  we 
must  not  forget  that  men  must  have  wherewithal  to  refresh  themselves,  and 
were  they  enabled  to  have  good  tea,  at  a  low  price,  an  enlivening  and  gently  ex- 
hilarating beverage  would  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  industrious  classes,  and 
man  would  not  so  often,  as  he  now  is,  be  tempted  to  "  put  an  enemy  in  his 
mouth  to  steal  away  his  brains."  The  gin-palaces,  and  such  places,  we  look 
upon  as  pit-falls  purposely  placed  to  entrap  the  footsteps  of  the  unwary.  Few 
so  heedless  as  to  fall  into  a  pit  if  exposed  to  their  view  ;  but  the  warmth  of  the 
6 


.-A 


Thof  the"1** 

pithily1  stated 

^Brokerage** 
House. 


from  Tea% 


42  TEA:  AND    THE   TEA   TRADE. 


fire,  the  brightness  of  the  lights,  the  temporary  excitement  of  the  draught  are 
as  flowers  strewed  over  the  deadly  chasm  beneath.  We  do  not  go  so  far  as  to 
say  that  good  and  cheap  tea  would  in  any  very  decided  manner  remedy  this  evil, 
but  we  do  say  this,  and  every  man  who  has  bestowed  a  thought  upon  the  sub- 
ject will  agree  with  us,  that  the  man  who  enjoys  a  cup  of  good  tea,  and  can  get 
it,  with  its  necessary  concomitants,  fire  and  comfort,  at  home,  will  not  be  in 
much  danger  of  turning  out  after  the  labors  of  the  day  to  seek  the  poisonous 
excitement  of  the  drinking-house.  The  subject  is  one  which  has  obtained,  and 
deserves,  the  attention  of  the  philanthropist.  Who  can  number  the  situations 
lost,  the  hopes  blighted,  the  workhouses  filled  by  this  one  vice  ?  Let  us  not 
waste  our  breath  in  tirades  against  what  is  evil  and  wrong :  a  sensible  man 
would  say  it  is  the  best  to  oppose  good  to  evil ;  to  provide  things  innocent,  if 
not  positively  salubrious,  in  the  place  of  those  which  are  decidedly  the  contrary. 
The  indulgence  in  liquor,  if  it  does  not  merit  the  tremendous  censure  of  the 
great  Robert  Hall,  "  liquid  fire,  and  distilled  damnation !"  is  at  least  detrimental 
to  health  of  body,  and  totally  incompatible  with  peace  and  serenity  of  mind 
Let  us,  then,  be  ready  to  co-operate  with  every  endeavor  made  to  persuade  gov- 
ernment to  REDUCE  THE  DUTY  ON  TEA,  and  if  we  are  in  earnest  in  our  desire, 
they  will,  sooner  or  later,  yield  to  the  pressure  from  without." 

The  following  concise  expression  of  opinion  on  the  subject  of  the  duty  is 
from  the  Liverpool  Chronicle,  of  January  12th,  last: — 

********* 

The  duty          "  The  enormous  duty  on  tea  is  likewise  utterly  indefensible.     To  impose  a 
ciseiystated'by  heavy  tax  on  the  "cup  that  cheers,  but  not  inebriates,"  which  is  almost  the  only 
thchronidie01  suPPor^  °f  that  l&rge  class  of  distressed  females  for  whom  much  commendable 
sympathy  is  now  expressed,  as  though  it  were  an  article  of  luxury  confined  to 
the  wealthy,  is  harsh,  if  not  cruel.     Not  only  would  a  much  larger  consumption 
of  the  article  follow  a  reduction  of  the  duty,  which  would  speedily  augment  the 
Exchequer,  but  it  would  open,  to  an  extent  of  which  we  have  little  conception, 
the  markets  of  China  to  the  manufactures  of  this  country  in  that  spirit  of  bar- 
ter which  is  the  very  soul  of  trade. 

********* 

"  The  greatest  comfort  we  possess,  while  oppressed  with  our  present  absurd 
and  unequal  system  of  taxation,  is,  that  it  cannot  last  long." 

THE    QUESTION    OF    CONSUMPTION    IN    THE    UNITED    STATES. 
The  question  of 

iTE^nited       ^n  re verting  to  the  consideration  of  the  question  of  the  consumption  in 

states.       this  country,  we  are  always  brought  to  the  necessity  of  a  more  stable  and 

uniform  market  here ; — -the  prevention  of  rapid  and  great  fluctuation  of  prices, 

out  of  which  spring  the  inducements  to  ship/afoe  and  very  inferior  kinds  of 

tea,  from  the  introduction  of  which  a  distaste  arises,  and  the  use  is  checked.* 

*  The  same  effect  is  seen  in  the  use  of  coffee,  as  the  following  paragraph  from  the 
paper  of  Major  Noah,  of  a  recent  date,  shows : — 

"A  house  in  this  city  advertises  500  bbls.  of  peas  for  sale,  and  heads  the  advertise- 
ment— "  To  coffee-roasters"  This  is  an  invitation  to  commit  a  fraud  by  mixing  coffee 
with  an  article,  which,  if  not  deleterious,  is  at  least  objectionable.  "We  are  in  favor  of 
burning  our  own  coffee." 


TEA:     AND    THB    TEA     TRADE.  43 

The  nature  of  this  commerce,  based  as  it  is  upon  an  article  of  prime  ne- 
cessity,  which  is  the  production  of  but  one  country,  and  that  a  distant  one, 
and  the  extension  of  whose  use  follows  so  surely  the  diffusion  of  knowledge, 
and  conducted,  as  well  in  second  as  in  first  hands,  by  a  comparatively  limited  tlons> 
number  of  the  most  intelligent  and  respectable  merchants,  whilst  its  impor- 
tation is  almost  confined  to  this  port,  should  exempt  it  from  the  frequent  and 
rapid  fluctuations  to  which  coffee  and  other  products  of  many,  and  of  near, 
as  well  as  distant  countries,  whose  importation  and  sale  is  neither  confined 
to  a  limited  number  of  merchants,  or  to  any  one  port,  are  subject. 

In  reviewing  the  trade  for  the  last  period  of  five  years,  we  find  a  remarka-     Remarkable 
ble  uniformity  in  its  amount,  as  shown  by  the  exports  from  China  hither,  {he  imports."1 
which,  for  convenience,  we  now  repeat  the  gross  suras  of.     Thus,  there  were 
shipped  to  this  country  in — 

1845,  1846,  1847,  1848,  1849. 

Green. .Ibs         13,812,099         14,236,082         14,388,938         15,340,565       13,834,453 
Black 6,950,459  4,266,166  4,498,798  3,998,578         4,875,564 


Total..         20,762,558         18,502,248         18,887,736         19,339,083       18,710,017 

Showing  an  average  of  about  14,323,000  pounds  of  green,  and  of  about 
4,917,000  pounds  of  black;  and  of  both,  19,240,000  pounds  per  annum. 
This  presents  a  uniformity  such  as  no  other  article  of  importation  does  for  a 
like  period,  and  indicates  a  commerce  free  of  the  elements  of  fluctuation. 

We  find  therefore,  that  the  influences  which  have  disturbed  the  course  of  The  influences 
prices  here  are  external,  or  of  an  imaginary  nature,  and  that  the  remedy  prices  are  not 
lies  in  the  adoption  of  a  new  system  of  sales,  by  which  a  regular  and  more  llSSSsary  remd- 
gradual  offering  of  the  annual  and  inevitable  accumulation  of  the  importations  edy  su^ested- 
in  the  spring  may  be  provided  for.     As  to  the  period  of  shipment  from  Chi-  The  period  of 
na,  the  laws  of  nature  control  the  operations  of  the  merchant ;  for  the  in-  cate™  by  natu- 
coming  of  the  crop  of  tea  at  the  shipping  ports  is  naturally  in  the  autumn ; 
the  monsoon  soon  after  favors  the  vessel's  return  hither ;  and  the  approach- 
ing season  of  humidity  does  not  less  powerfully  than  the  winds  tend  to  warn 
the  merchant  against  delay  in  China. 

These  natural  and  uncontrolable  causes,  then,  indicate  clearly  the  necessity  The  course  of 
of  the  suggested  remedy.     The  considerations  of  its  expediency  have  already  he^sh^tte 
been  presented  in  the  previous  papers,  in  anticipation  of  the  opening  of  the    neremed the 
spring  trade  here  ;  and  the  subsequent  course  of  the  market,  has,  in  the  most 
marked  manner,  confirmed  the  opinions  then  expressed  upon  this  point,  after 
due  allowance  for  the  unusually  limited  country  demand  during  the  past 
six  weeks. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  highly  respectable  auction  houses  now  em-     its  adoption 
ployed  to  sell  the  teas  imported,  would  gladly  concur  in  a  new  system  of  couvTiSencHo 
sales,  whereby  the  amount  obtained,  and,  as  a  consequence,  their  own  com-  a11  Parties- 
missions  would  be  considerably  increased,  while  their  convenience  would  also 
be  promoted.     A  great  convenience  would  result  to  all  the  parties  to  the 
trade,  also,  in  the  greater  diffusion  of  the  payments  for  the  teas  over  the  year, — 


44  TEA:ANDTHETEATRADE. 

A ^  indeed,  when  the  large  aggregate  amount  of  the  sales  of  tea  is  considered,  a 

greater  equalization  of  the  payments  over  the  year  will  appear  as  a  benefit 
to  all  branches  of  business. 

Peculiar  in-        ^he  question  of  consumption  is  always  recognized  as  the  most  important 

consumption   e^ement  m  considering  the  progress  of  commerce  in  any  article,  and  in  the 

of  Tea.       examination  of  it  with  reference  to  tea,  it  is  found  to  possess  peculiar  interest. 

It  is  an  article  whose  intrinsic  qualities  are  the  least  understood,  generally, 

and  the  examination  and  judgment  of  which,  by  the  few  who  have  some 

practical  experience  in  it,  is  the  most  important  of  all  those  products  which 

enter  into  general  consumption.     No  other  necessary  of  life  offers  so  great  a 

variety  of  kinds,  much  less  such  a  diversity  of  qualities ;  nor  is  any  other  so 

valuable  in  proportion  to  weight  or  bulk ;  yet  no  other  is,  as  a  general  thing, 

so  hurriedly  examined  and  sold. 

The  evils  resulting  from  this  haste,  and  consequent  incompleteness  of  ex- 
Efromeh8astyng  animation,  are  not  confined  to  the  mere  fluctuation  of  prices,  but  affect  the 
8ales        management  of  the  dealers  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  thus  act  preju- 
dicially upon  consumption;  whilst,  as  has  been  before  remarked,  the  fluctu- 
ation in  prices  induces  the  shipment  of  very  inferior  qualities,  and  this  preju- 
dices the  consumers  against  the  good  tea. 

The  general  want  of  nicety  of  judgment  in  the  selection  of  tea,  and  the  con- 
Undue  regard  sequent  undue  regard  paid  to  the  "  style"  or  form  and  color  of  the  leaf,  ra- 
or  the  lea?16"  tner  ^ian  *°  ^ne  m^rinsic  quality,  which  can  only  be  well  tested  in  the  cup, 
and  which  is  often  indicated  by  a  broken  leaf,  whether  in  green  or  black  teas, 
for  the  reason  that  the  youngest  leaves  are  naturally  the  tenderest  and  soon- 
est broken,  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  richest  in  flavor,  is  at  present  a  check 
to  the  growing  predilection  for  the  beverage.  Other  misapprehensions  exert 
a  similar  influence :  one  of  these,  the  general  impression  that  teas  seriously 
deteriorate  in  quality  by  keeping  a  year  or  two ;  whereas,  all  kinds  of  black 
tea,  save  only  the  delicate  white  leaf  of  the  Pekoe,  which  rarely  or  never 
comes  to  this  country,  are  really  improved  by  keeping  a  year ;  and  the  kinds 
Teas  improve  most  used  here,  Ouloong,  Ning-Yong,  Ankoi,  and  Congou-Souchong,  really 
by  keeping.  requjre  the  effect  of  the  lapse  of  time  in  abstracting  the  fire  which  has  been 
communicated  in  the  curing  of  the  leaf,  to  render  them  mellow  and  palatable 
to  those  persons  who  have  been  accustomed  to  the  use  of  tea  in  China  or 
England ;  and  a  very  considerable  portion  of  the  green  teas  would  gain,  ra- 
ther than  lose,  in  appreciative  flavor,  by  being  kept  a  year.  It  is  necessary 
to  say,  however,  that  tea  of  no  kind  can  be  kept  sound  in  a  small  parcel,  or 
in  an  open  package,  any  considerable  length  of  time,  although  a  package  of 
60  to  80  pounds  would,  if  originally  well  cured,  keep  for  several  years  un- 
impared  in  a  dry,  airy  place. 

The  Chinese  do  not  drink  new  tea,  but  consider  it  necessary  to  allow  time 
for  the  fire  to  escape ;  and  they  say  that  the  highly-fired  black  teas  of  the 
better  qualities,  really  improve  in  flavor  by  being  kept  two  years  in  tight 
leaden  boxes. 


TEA:    AND   THE    TEA    TRADE.  45 

To  the  various  causes  alluded  to  must  be  attributed  the  comparatively  slow 
increase  of  the  consumption  of  tea,  and  the  wide  disparity  shown  by  the  re- 
ally  immense  increase  in  the  consumption  of  coffee.  That  the  introduction 
of  the  poor  qualities  of  tea  into  the  west  and  south-west,  which  was  noticed 
in  Part  First,  where  the  chief  increase  of  the  population  has  accrued,  has  had  the 
effect  to  turn  the  consumption  upon  coffee,  there  is  no  doubt  :—  for  we  find 
that  the  chief  increase  in  the  use  of  tea  is  in  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States, 
including,  however,  Ohio,  where  the  dealers  and  consumers  appreciate  the 
better  classes,  and  where  the  judgment  of  qualities,  from  long  habit,  is  better, 
and  if  this  were  not  so,  the  greater  economy  of  tea,  as  compared  with  coffee, 
irrespective  of  the  distance  of  place,  and  which  is  more  in  proportion  to  the 
distance  of  carriage,  as  well  as  the  greater  portableness  and  convenience  of 
it,  would  have  kept  the  consumption  at  its  relative  proportion,  as  shown  in 
other  parts  of  the  country.  That  tea,  when  properly  used,  is  much  the  most 
economical,  and  its  effects  salutary,  as  compared  with  coffee,  whose  effects  injurious  ef- 
are  usually  injurious,  there  is  no  doubt.  And  it  is  understood  that  the  phy- 
sicians, during  the  prevalence  of  the  cholera  last  season,  recommended  the 
use  of  black  tea  instead  of  coffee.  There  are  already  indications  of  the  turn- 
ing of  the  consumption  upon  black  teas  in  Ohio  and  other  parts  of  the  West, 
in  lieu  of  coffee  ;  and  it  may  be  hoped  that,  as  the  necessary  knowledge  in 
preparing  it  extends,  and  the  better  qualities  become  appreciated,  the  dis- 
parity in  the  consumption  of  the  two  beverages  will  be  removed.  The  sincere  sincere  efforts 
efforts  of  every  one  in  the  trade  should  be  used  to  this  most  desirable,  be-  to  extend  the 

use  of  Tea. 

cause  mutually  beneficial,  end. 


By  judicious  and  persevering  efforts,  the  consumption  may  be  brought 
somewhat  nearer  to  correspond  with  the  ratio  of  it  in  the  United  Kingdom,  the  consumP- 

1  °  '     tipn  may  be 

where  "  a  large  proportion  of  the  population  does  not  consume  tea,"  owing     increased. 

to  its  high  cost.     In  1846,  it  will  have  been  seen,  the  rate  per  head  of  the 

whole  population,  (including  Ireland,)  was  If  pounds;  at  which  this  coun- 

try would  now  require  about  30,000,000  pounds,  instead  of  20,000,000  ;  but, 

as  has  been  before  stated,  the  proportion  of  persons  who  can  afford  to  buy 

tea  in  this  country  is  immeasurably  greater  than  in  Great  Britain  and  Ire- 

and  ;  and  when  it  is  considered  that  in  England,  as  is  stated  in  the  papers   consumption 

of  Mr.  Norton,  in  Part  Second,  "  in  private  families,  whose  expenses  are  based 

on  competence,  the  consumption  of  tea  is  twelve  to  thirteen  pounds  per  head, 

and  that  domestic  servants  in  such  families,  when  allowed  tea,  have  nearly 

one-quarter  of  a  pound  per  week,  or  thirteen  pounds  per  annum,"  the  dis- 

parity in  the  consumption  in  the  two  countries  is  truly  surprising  ;   and  sug- 

gests the  hope  of  a  greater  ratio  of  increase  than  the  former  statistics  have 

shown.     The  past  and  present  seasons,  it  is  believed,  will  be  found  to  show 

a  greater  increase. 

The  following  remarks  referring  to  this  branch  of  the  subject  are  extracted 
from  an  editorial  notice  of  the  first  and  second  of  these  papers  in  the  Literary 
World  of  March  2d  :— 


40 


TEA:    AND    THE    TEA   TRADE, 


"  One  striking  result  is  prominently  brought  out  by  the  apparent  incongruity 
of  cause  and  effect.  It  is  that  the  increase  of  the  consumption  of  tea  is  propor- 
tionably  higher  in  England  than  in  this  country,  notwithstanding  the  duty  in  one 
the~d^parfty  country  is  enormous,  and  in  the  other  nothing  at  all.  In  England  there  is  a  fixed 
Sunmp?ioCnOIin  dutJ  uPon  a11  qualities  of  tea,  Mr.  Nye  tells  us,  of  about  fifty  cents  a  pound ! 
Sf  Sit*'!?  The  exPlanation  of  the  different  progress  of  consumption  in  the  two  different 
countries,  Mr.  Nye  finds  in  a  great  degree  in  the  use  of  better  qualities  of  tea  in 
England  than  here ;  for  the  cost  of  transportation,  &c.,  being  as  great  on  a  tea 
of  the  higher  qualities  as  on  the  lesser,  and  the  duty  being  uniform,  the  obvious 
effect  is  to  cheapen  in  comparison  the  better  article.  Thus  in  England  the  con- 
sumer of  a  poor  tea  pays  a  tax  of  200  to  400  per  cent  on  the  cost,  while  the 
high-priced  tea  pays  only  50  to  100.  Between  the  two  articles  the  latter  thrives, 
and,  the  appetite  growing  by  what  it  feeds  on,  the  taste  for  a  genuine  article  of 
luxury  overcomes  the  cost  and  the  burden  imposed  by  the  government.  In  the 
United  States,  on  the  contrary,  poorer  kinds  of  tea  are  introduced,  poorer  in 
quality  and  actually  in  economy,  and  the  use  of  the  beverage  limited  by  the  dis- 
taste created  from  the  inferior  article.  This  is  the  present  working  of  the  sys- 
tem ;  but  it  must  soon  change  when  it  is  discovered  where  the  defect  lies.  Bet- 
ter teas  will  be  found  to  be  cheaper ;  and  the  more  widely  they  are  introduced, 
in  the  more  rapid  ratio  will  spread  the  demand." 

THE    QUESTION    OF    SUPPLY. 

The  question        This  question  seems  to  be  but  little  understood  generally,  and  much  mis- 

of  supply  con-  .  o  j  i 

sidered.  apprehension  exists  amongst  those  who  are  connected  with  the  trade.     Opin- 

ions have  been  stated  which  appear  contradictory. 

Misapprehen-  ^  nas  been  shown  in  the  previous  papers  that  the  downward  tendency  of 
Lyin-  prices  the  two  past  years  had  led  to  the  absorption  of  the  old  stocks  by  the 
consumption  ;  and  it  is  now  apparent  that  the  supply  of  tea  in  China  is  inad- 
equate to  the  wants  of  the  consuming  countries,  although  the  early  in-coming 
of  the  crops,  and  the  prompt  shipment  of  them  to  England  and  the  United 
States,  appears,  at  the  moment,  to  indicate  an  abundant  supply.  Prices  ma- 
terially higher  are  required  to  induce  the  collecting  and  curing  of  the  inferior 
descriptions  of  the  leaf,  by  which  to  enlarge  the  shipments.  It  seems  not  to 
be  generally  known,  either,  that  an  increase  of  production  by  planting  is 
only  possible  in  two  or  three  years,  which  period  is  required  for  the  plant  to 
grow  to  maturity  and  produce. 

Every  successive  mail  from  China,  since  the  two  first  papers  were  written, 
has  brought  a  confirmation  of  the  opinion  of  the  writer  in  the  fact  that  the 
lower  grades  of  both  black  and  green  kinds,  are  in  considerably  less  than  a 
proportionate  supply  this  season,  showing,  as  this  does,  that  the  prices  of  the 
two  past  jears  did  not  suffice  to  pay  for  the  tea  ;  and  it  is  well  known  in 
England  that  the  total  supply  of  Congou  will  be  less  than  the  consumption 
there.  It  seems  equally  certain  that  the  imports  into  this  country  before  the  1st 
of  October  will  fall  short  of  the  wants  of  trade.  At  the  present  moment,  the 
data  by  which  to  sum  up  the  supply  from  the  1st  of  January  to  the  1st  of 
June,  is  at  hand ;  and  taking  the  difference  in  the  stocks  in  "  first  hands"  on 


TEA:     AND     THE     TEA     TRADE.  47 

the  1st  of  January  of  each  year,  the  supply  to  the  1st  of  June  this  year  will  f A ^ 

be  about  fifteen  thousand  half-chests  of  Young  Hyson,  and  a  considerable 
quantity  of  all  other  kinds  of  green  tea,  short  of  last  year.  There  was  no 
American  vessel  in  China  at  the  last  dates,  nor  will  any  arrive  thereafter, 
probably,  in  time  to  load  and  reach  here  before  the  close  of  the  spring  trade, 
or  about  the  1st  of  July.  There  was  a  deficiency  of  2,000,000  pounds  of 
green  tea  in  the  export  to  England,  to  the  last  dates ;  and  if  this  be  made 
up  (consisting  chiefly  in  Young  Hyson)  from  the  stock  in  China,  there  will  of  shipmentto 
be  a  large  deficiency,  even  if  every  package  be  taken,  in  the  year's  shipment 
to  this  country.  This  deficiency  in  England  must  be  made  up  from  this 
country,  if  not  from  China,  for  the  tea  is  wanted  for  actual  consumption ;  and, 
in  either  case,  the  supply  here  must  prove  very  much  short  of  last  year's  im- 
port. The  character  of  the  lessened  export  of  green  tea  to  England,  indeed, 
indicates  that  a  considerable  quantity  of  genuine  tea  will  be  required  from 
this  country,  as  stated  in  the  following  extract  of  a  London  circular  of  the 
4th  of  March  : — "  The  following  is  an  extract  of  a  Canton  letter  of  Decem- 
ber 26th : — "  The  purchases  of  these  teas  (the  new  crop  of  green)  for  Eng- 
land have  been  very  limited  in  extent,  the  run  throughout  the  season  having 
been  almost  entirely  upon  the  Canton  sorts,  of  which  fully  four-fifths  of  the 
export  consists ;  and  of  these,  not  a  little  is  altogether  spurious."* 

In  December,  4,000  packages  of  the  finest  Hysons  were  taken  at  Canton 
for  Portugal ;  and  a  large  quantity  of  Hyson  Skins  for  Sydney. 

Considering,  then,  that  there  is  not  only  a  deficiency  of  2,000,000  pounds 
in  the  export  to  England  of  green  teas,  but  a  still  greater  one  of  genuine  Prices  shonid 
tea,  and  a  considerably  lessened  supply  provided  for  this  country  to  the  1st 
of  June,  there  should  be  a  brisk  demand  here  at  higher  prices  than  last  year 
for  all  kinds  of  green  teas. 

THE  TEA  TRADE  WITH  RUSSIA,  HOLLAND  AND  OTHER  COUNTRIES  OF  EUROPE 

AND  WITH  THE  COLONIES    OF  ENGLAND. 

We  now  come  to  a  review  of  the  trade  with  the  lesser  consuming  countries.  The  trade  with 
That  with  Russia,  so  far  as  has  been  ascertained,  has  been  less  subject  to       Ruasia- 
fluctuations,  and  is  a  gradually  progressing  one  since  1820  ;  but  the  exact 
statistics  of  it,  for  all  the  intermediate  years,  have  not  been  obtained. 
The  following  are  the  different  statements,  so  far  as  obtained : — 

IMPORTATION  OF  TEA  INTO  RUSSIA. 


Years. 
1824  

Poods. 
154  197 

Roubles. 
6  2604^9 

1825  

133  514 

4-  807  04.  Q 

1826  

130562 

K  fi7^  qqo 

1827  

161  958 

6  719  166 

Total  poods  

580  231 

99  4.A9  RQfi 

Of  which  exported  

3  843 

77^  730 

Leaving  for  consumption 

576,388 

22,686,906 

•  The  same  letter  states  that  the  supply  of  good  and  superior  green  teas  is  less  than  in  ten  years  before. 


48 


TEA:    AND    THE    TEA    TRADE. 


On  an  average,  144,097  poods,  of  the  value  of  5,671,726  roubles  ;  or  in 
English  weight  and  money  5,187,496  Ibs.,  value  £248,346  sterling. 

In  1832  the  import  into  Russia  was  179,474  poods,  or  6,461,064  Ibs. 

In  1847  Mr.  Martin  estimated  the  consumption  in  Russia  at  10,000,000  Ibs. 

It  consists  almost  entirely  of  black  tea ;  and  two  to  three  years  are  re- 
quired, in  the  transit  through  Siberia,  to  reach  St.  Petersburg. 


Holland. 


The  next  country  in  importance  of  those  now  under  consideration  in  the 
consumption  or  importation  of  tea  is  Holland.  The  shipments  to  that  country 
The  trade  with  have  varied  very  greu; ly  from  the  earliest  history  of  the  trade  to  the  present  time. 
During  several  u'^ti  act  periods  of  time  great  quantities  of  tea  were  shipped  to 
Holland  for  introduction,  by  smuggling  into  England,  varying  with  the  induce- 
ments presented  by  the  revenue  laws.  In  1 7 83  to  1 794  the  exports  from  China 
by  the  Dutch  averaged  about  4,000,000  Ibs.  per  annum.  In  1818  to  1829 
there  were  shipped  to  the  Netherlands,  in  American  ships,  about  19,000,000 
Ibs.,  and  by  the  Dutch,  in  the  same  period,  492,382  quarter-chests  of  66  Ibs. 
each.  From  1829  to  1838  there  were  considerable  shipments  in  American 
vessels  almost  annually. 

In  1838  the  consumption  of  tea  sent  into  and  through  Holland  was  esti- 
mated at  about  2,800,000  Ibs.  per  annum.  At  present  the  direct  shipments 
to  Holland  are  less  than  tLis  quantity  ;  and  not  only  that  country,  but  every 
other  one  of  Europe,  except  Russia,  is  now  supplied,  a  considerable  propor- 
tion of  its  wants  of  tea,  from  England. 

The  following  table  contains  the  account  of  the  recent  exports  to  the  con- 
tinent of  Europe  : — 

EXPORT  OF  TEA  TO  THE  CONTINENT  OF  EUROPE. 


GREEN  TEA. 


Direct  ship- 
ment to  the 
Continent  of 
Europe. 


Young  Hyson Ibs. 

Hyson 

Hyson  Skin 

Twankay 

Imperial 

Gunpowder 


Total  green.. . 


Congou 

Souchong 

Pouchong 

Ouloong 

Flowery  Pekoe 

Scented  and  plain  O.  Pekoe.. 
Caper 


Total  black , 
Total  green , 


1846-7.0 

202,422 
291,268 
149,219 
190,773 
108,044 
63,219 

1,004,945 

BLACK  TEA. 

1,905,942 

641,046 

23,300 

21,600 

677,633 

58,300 

2,100 

3,329,921 
1,004,945 


Total  pounds 4,334,866 

a  In  15  vessels  ;  b  in  7  vessels  ;  c  in 


1847-8.6 

27,200 
117,300 

43,300 
124,100 

62,000 

59,500 

433,400 


1,027,300 
372,300 

10,300 

150,600 

25,700 

32,100 

1,618,300 
433,400 

2,051,700 
vessels. 


1848-9.C 

24,800 
88,900 
40,100 
92,500 
91,600 
21,200 

289,400 


1,231,600 
119,600 


146,300 
13,900 

1,511,400 
289,400 

1,800,800 


TEA:    AND   THE  TEA   TRADE. 


To  France  two  or  three  vessels  with  parts  of  cargoes  of  tea  make  up  th 
annual  shipment  from  China. 

To  Portugal,  some  years,  about  10,000  chests  of  Hyson  are  shipped 
through  Macao  by  Portuguese  vessels. 

To  Hamburg  and  Bremen  two  or  three  moderate  cargoes  make  up  the 
average  annual  shipment  from  China. 

To  Denmark  and  Sweden  one  or  two  small  shipments  in  a  year  comprise 
the  direct  supplies. 

Australia  has  become  the  most  important  consuming  country,  iia  propor- 
tion to  population,  as  the  table  below  will  show  ;  and  as  the  increase  of  the 
populations  and  of  their  means  is  very  rapid,  there  will  be  a  rapidly  increas- 
ing outlet  there  for  tea  : — 

EXPORT  OF  TEA  TO  AUSTRALIA. 


•Congou Ibs 

Souchong  

Scented  Orange  Pekoe 

Scented  Caper 

Plain  Orange  Pekoe 

Plain  Caper 

Flowery  Pekoe 

Sorts.  . 


BLACK  TEA. 

1846-7.a 

784,000 

93,000 

2,600 

7,600 

2,000 

1,000 

200 

5,100 


Total  black. 


895,500 


GREEN  TEA. 


Hyson  Skin. . . 
Twankay  .... 

Hyson 

Young  Hyson. 

Imperial 

Gunpowder. .. 


Total  green. 
Total  black. 


2,803,000 

59,300 

30,500 

7,600 

5,700 

17,700 

2,923,800 
895,500 


1847-8.& 

472,1-00 
19,200 


19,200 


510,500 


1,592,400 

29,400 

11,500 

2,000 

1,300 

15,400 

1,652,000 
510,500 


Total  pounds 3,819,300  2,162,500 

a  In  27  vessels ;  b  in  17  vessels ;  c  in  24  vessels. 
'This  closes  the  separate  view  of  the  minor  consuming  countries. 


1848-9.C 

902,300 

32,600 

800 


3,400 
939,100 


2,046,900 

3,700 

9,300 

7,000 

600 

15,500 

2,083,000 
.939,100 

3,022,100 


To  France. 
To  Portugal, 


To  Hamburg 
and  Bremen, 


To  Denmark 
and  Sweden, 


To  Australia. 


The  present  consumption  of  tea  by  all  the  world,  save  China  and  Japan, 
may  be  estimated  in  round  numbers  as  follows  :—  ' 

'Great  Britain  and  Ireland  will  consume  this  year. .............. Ibs         52  000  000 

Continent  of  Europe  and  other  countries,  exp't'd  f'm  Eng.         4,500,000 
Continent  of  Europe,  Except  Russia,  direct 2,500,000 


7,000,000 
2,000,000 


Deduct  for  "  other  countries  " 

Leaves  for  the  continent  of  Europe,  except  Russia 

British  North  America,  East  and  West  Indies,  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Ac., 

through  England  and  direct 

Australia 

Russia 

United  States  of  America,  including  exports  to  various  countries. 
South  America,  Eastern  Islands,  &c 


5,000,000 

3,500,000 

3,500,000 

10,000,000 

20,000,000V 

500,000 


Total  pounds 94,500,000 


the  World. 


50  TEA'.     AND     THE     TEA     TRADE. 


In  concluding  the  series  of  these  papers,  we  annex  the  following  account 
of  the  growth  and  curing  of  tea,  &c.,  extracted  from  Mr.  Martin's  Report  to 
the  committee  of  the  British  House  of  Commons  : — 

Account  of  The  territory  in  which  the  large  amount  of  tea  consumed  in  Europe  and 
growth  of  Tea.  America  is  grown,  is  south  of  the  Great  Yan-tze-Keang  River ;  the  whole  region 
lying  between  the  27th  and  31st  degrees  of  north  latitude,  and  from  the  sea 
coast  inland  for  500  to  600  miles,  may  be  considered  capable  of  producing  tea ; 
but  the  most  favored  region  is  the  generally  sterile  hilly  province  of  Fokein,  and 
the  provinces  of  Keangsoo  and  Chekeang,  between  the  25th  and  31st  degrees  of 
north  latitude.  This  territory  which  extends  over  350  to  400  square  miles,  is 
composed  principally  of  the  debris  of  a  coarse  granite,  and  of  a  ferruginous  sand- 
stone, crumbling  into  decay ;  but  when  well  comminuted  and  irrigated,  yielding 
sufficient  nutriment  for  the  hardy  tea  plant,  (a  camellia,)  whose  qualities,  like 
that  of  the  vine,  are  elicited  by  the  nature  of  the  soil,  the  elevation,  the  climate, 
and  the  solar  aspect  to  which  the  shrub  is  subjected.* 

It  is  generally  stated  that  green  and  black  teas  are  produced  from  the  shrubs 
of  the  same  species,  with  a  slight  variety  ;  the  leaf  of  the  green  being  larger  and 
broader  than  that  of  the  black ;  the  former  leaf  is  rounded,  the  latter  elliptic, 
flatter,  and  more  coriaceous. 

The  cultivation  in  different  soils,  the  picking  of  the  leaves  at  different  stages 
of  expansion,  and  subjecting  them  to  greater  or  less  degree  of  heat  and  manipu- 
lation in  dying,  is  the  cause  of  considerable  variety;  probably  the  same  differ- 
ence exists  as  between  the  red  and  white  grape,  or  the  black  and  white  currant. 

The  shrub  is  cultivated  with  great  care,  planted  in  quincunx  rows,  in  beds,'  by 
seeds,  chiefly  along  the  sides  of  hills  with  a  southern  aspect,  and  on  a  poor  gra- 
vjelly  soil,  among  the  debris  of  decayed  granite  and  disintegrated  sandstone,  and 
where  nothing  else  will  grow,  and  it  is  used  for  hedgerows  or  boundaries. 

The  height  varies  from  three  to  seven  feet,  and  it  is  very  leafy.  The  flower 
resembles  the  wild  rose  or  briar  flower,  common  in  English  hedges  in  autumn  ; 
the  seed  vessel  is  a  nut  of  the  size  of  a  small  hazel,  or  rather  like  the  castor-oil 
nut,  but  rounder :  three  red  kernels  are  in  each  nut,  divided  by  capsules,  and 
from  these  a  quantity  of  oil,  termed  "  tea  oil,"  is  extracted,  and  used  for  com- 
mon purposes  by  the  Chinese.  Six  or  seven  seeds  are  put  into  each  hole  when 
planting;  in  12  or  18  months  transplantation  takes  place,  and  about  the  third 
year  the  leaves  are  first  plucked.  At  seven  years  of  age  the  top  is  cut  almost 
down  to  the  stem  (as  gardners  do  with  old  currant  trees,)  and  a  more  leafy  set 
of  shoots  spring  up  the  ensuing  year. 

The  age  of  the  tree  is  unknown  ;  it  has  a  useful  duration,  probably  to  15  or 
20  years.  It  is  an  evergreen,  and  blossoms  from  the  end  of  autumn  throughout 
the  winter  until  spring.  The  leaves  are  dried  by  placing  them  first  in  flat  bas- 
kets, and  exposing  them  to  the  air  and  a  moderate  degree  of  sun.  They  are 
then  further  dried  or  tatched  in  thin  pans  of  iron,  heated  by  a  small  furnace  of 
charcoal,  the  leaves  being  kept  constantly  turned  round  by  the  hand,  and  rolled 
or  rubbed  between  the  fingers,  to  give  the  leaf  a  rounded  form.  When  suffi- 
ciently fired,  it  is  picked  and  packed  for  Canton  in  chops  of  100  to  1,000  chests, 
each  chop  having  marked  on  it  the  name  of  the  maker,  the  district  where  the  tea 
is  grown,  its  quality,  date,  &c. 

•  I  found  the  tea  shrub  in  several  parts  of  China  planted  as  hedge-rows  or  fences  to  fields  and  veg- 
etable gardens. — R.  Montg,  Martin. 


T  E  A  :      A  N  D     T  H  E     T  E  A     T  El  A  D  E  .  51 


Copper  is  not  used  in  the  preparation  of  any  description  of  tea  ;  iron  pans  are  , 
solely  employed.  I  visited  a  tea  manufactory  five  miles  above  Canton,  where 
about  500  men,  women,  and  children  were  engaged  in  converting  coarse-looking 
refuse  leaves  into  several  sorts  of  green  tea.  A  series  of  large  flat  iron  pans 
were  placed  over  a  range  of  furnaces  heated  by  charcoal,  in  several  successive 
degrees.  The  teas,  which  had  been  previously  picked  and  sorted,  were  then 
placed  successively  in  these  pans  by  men,  who  each  rolled  them  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent. After  passing  four  or  five  pans  a  small  quantity  of  turmeric  was  sprinkled 
over  the  leaves,  in  a  pan  highly  heated,  and  in  the  next  pan  a  blue  powder,  com- 
posed of  prussian  blue  and  gypsum  was  added,  which  gave  a  delicate  green 
bloom  to  the  leaf,  which  formerly  had  been  of  a  dingy  black  or  brown  hue.  The 
tea  was  then  gradually  cooled  in  large  shallow  baskets,  then  placed  in  a  winnow- 
ing machine  and  sifted  into  different  sizes,  the  smaller  being  packed  and  sold  as 
gunpowder  or  pearl  tea.  Thus  the  greatest  refuse  of  tea,  or  the  leaves  which 
had  passed  through  the  teapots  of  the  Chinese,  were  converted  into  "  Gunpow- 
der," "  Hyson,"  and  other  teas  lor  exportation,  as  the  Chinese  never  drink  green 
tea.  The  proprietor  of  the  manufactory  told  me  that  the  green  tea  thus  pre- 
pared was  sold  to  the  Americans,  who  consume  but  little  black  tea.  It  is  said 
to  be  difficult  to  detect  this  colored  tea  from  the  pure,  and  as  the  Americans 
have  good  tea-tasters  at  Canton,  the  English  probably  receive  their  share  of  the 
adulterated  manufacture. 

The  names  of  teas  are  a  very  imperfect  criterion  of  their  quality.  Formerly 
Bohea  was  the  principal  tea  in  use ;  now  the  title  is  used  to  designate  the  lowest 
description  of  black  tea.  It  may  be  useful  to  indicate  the  designation  of  the 
names  in  general  use. 

Bohea  is  an  English  corruption  of  the  words  "  Woo-e,"  "  Voo-yee,"  or 
"Ba-yee,"  some  hills  of  that  name,  about  12  miles  in  circumference,  in  Fokein, 
on  the  borders  of  Canton  province,  yielding  a  common  tea  of  that  name,  which 
is  gathered  three  times  a  year.  It  is  called  by  the  Chinese  "  Tacha"  (large  tea.) 

Congo,  from  "  congfoo,"  laborer,  is  of  a  better  quality  than  Bohea,  less  dusty, 
and  with  a  rougher  and  more  astringent  flavor. 

Wo-ping  teas  are  so  called  from  a  district  of  that  name  in  Canton  province, 
and  when  mixed  with  Bohea  form  "  Canton  Bohea." 

Ankoi,  a  coarse  tea  from  the  district  of  that  name. 

Campoi,  from  Keinpoi,  selected.     It  is  a  stronger  tea  than  Congo. 

Souche  or  Caper,  from  swangche,  double  preparation,  or  choolan,  fragrant 
pearls.  A  great  deal  from  Ankoi  district. 

Souchong,  from  seaore-chong,  scarce  or  small,  good  thing.  It  is  carefully 
made  from  trees  three  years  old,  grown  in  good  soil.  Older  trees,  in  a  similar 
situation,  produce  Congo;  older  still,  Bohea  and  other  inferior  teas. 

There  are  different  sorts  of  Souchong,  and  it  is  not  easy  to  get  this  tea  pure 
and  good  in  England.  The  leaf  is  of  agreeable  fragrancy,  somewhat  like  new- 
made  hay ;  the  leaf  crisp,  of  a  glossy  black  color,  and  when  subjected  to  boiling 
water,  of  a  sick-red  hue  ;  and  the  liquid  is  an  amber  brown. 

Peko,  or  Peho,  from  pih,  have  white  petals  or  hair,  so  called  from  being  made 
of  young  leaves,  gathered  in  when  the  blossoming  is  over  spring,  when  there  is 
a  whitish  hair  or  down  on  the  leaf. 

The  tea  flowers  are  fragrant  mixed  with  the  leaf,  and  give  a  fine  odor  and  fla- 
vor to  the  tea. 


TEA.:  AND   THE   TEA   TRADE. 


Twankay,  from  Tunkay,  a  district  where  the  tea  is  generally  made.  In  green 
teas  it  corresponds  in  quality  to  Co-ngo  among  black  teas. 

Singlo,  from  Sunglo,  a  mountain  in  Ganhway.  Both  these  teas  have  large 
fiat  leaves,  and  are  not  much  rolled. 

Hyson,  from  hechuen,  genial  spring  or  first  crop,  when  the  young  leaves  are 
gathered. 

Hyson  Skin,  Puha  tea  skin.  In  Chinese  "  skin"  signifies  the  refuse.  It  i& 
formed  of  the  leaves  rejected  in  the  preparation  of  Hyson.  The  dealers  in  Lon- 
don give  it  the  name  of  bloom  tea. 

Young  Hyson,  from  yee-tseen,  before  the  rains.     It  is  a  very  small  leaf. 

Gunpowder  is  the  picked,  small,  well-rounded  Hyson,  like  shot,  also  called 
Pearl  or  Imperial  tea.  Several  other  teas  with  new  names  are  being  introduced. 

The  different  teas  are  prepared  roughly  by  the  tea  farmers,  and  then  taken  to 
the  manufacturers,  who  prepare  and  sort  the  teas  according  to  the  districts  in 
which  they  are  grown,  the  variety  and  age  of  the  tree,  the  size  and  quality  of 
the  leaf,  &c.  The  leaves  are  passed  through  sieves  of  different  sizes  before 
their  quality  is  determined.  The  judgment  of  the  manufacturer  in  selecting  and 
sorting,  and  the  skill  of  his  workmen  in  firing  or  tatching  the  leaf,  is  of  the  first 
consequence.  The  better  quality  teas  are  more  frequently  roasted,  and  each 
leaf  separately  rolled.  The  finest  descriptions  do  not  reach  England ;  the  man- 
darins pay  very  high  prices  for  those  teas,  and  their  flavor  is  so  delicate  that 
they  would  not  bear  four  or  five  months'  sweating  in  the  hold  of  a  ship.  The 
production  of  tea  for  the  use  of  the  Chinese  middle  and  lower  classes  must  be 
very  great,  as  it  is  used  at  every  meal. 

The  tea  found  in  Russia,  conveyed  by  land  and  river  carriage  thither,  is  said 
to  be  superior  to  the  tea  generally  used  in  England,  This  may  be  owing  to  the 
leaf  being  less  fired ;  many  of  the  finest  teas  drunk  in  China  would  not  bear  five 
or  six  months'  stowage  in  the  hot  and  humid  atmosphere  of  the  hold  of  a  ship, 
and  therefore  the  teas  conveyed  to  Europe  by  sea  require  to  be  dried  and  fired 
to  a  degree  which  must  injure  their  quality.  Teas  that  I  drunk  at  Foochoo, 
Ningpo,  and  Shanghae  were  not  highly  dried,  and  had  a  very  delicate  flavor, 
when  drank  as  the  Chinese  do,  without  milk  or  sugar;  but  these  teas  could  not 
be  preserved  more  than  a  few  months.  The  Chinese  say.  that  the  high-dried 
superior  black  teas  improve  in  flavor  by  being  closely  packed  in  air-tight  leaden 
cases  for  one  or  two  years.  Some  of  the  finest  teas  in  China  scarcely  color  the 
water,  and  the  preparation  consists  solely  in  pouring  boiling  water  on  a  small 
quantity  of  the  leaves  placed  in  a  teacup,  fitted  with  a  close  cover ;  among  the 
highest  classes  a  silver  strainer  is  placed  at  the  bottom  of  the  teacup.  Tea 
made  up  into  balls,  or  compressed  into  the  form  of  bricks,  or  of  flat  cakes,  is  ex- 
ported to  Tartary,  Tibet,  Burmah,  &e.,  boiled  with  milk,  and  constitutes  an 
agreeable  and  nutritious  beverage. 

The  constituent  properties  of  tea  are, 

Black.       Green.  Black.        Green. 


Insoluble  fiber 44.8          51.3 

Loss...  2.0  2.5 


Tannin 40.6 

Vegetable  albumen. .  6.4  5.7 

Mucilage 6.3  5.9 

The  tannin  blackens  salts  of  iron.  The  proportions  of  tannin  must  vary  with 
the  quality  of  the  tea.  A  salifiable  base,  named  "  theine,"  in  regular  colorless 
crystals,  has  been  obtained  from  tea. 


TEA:    AND    THE    TEA    TRADE. 


The  ashes  of  black  and  green  teas  yield  silex,  carbonate  of  lime,  magnesia, 
chloruret  of  potash.  In  distillation  tea  yields  a  volatile  oil,  and  according  to 
some,  a  small  quantity  of  resin,  soluble  in  alcohol,  and  possessing  the  odor  of 
tea.  The  effects  of  tea  on  the  human  system  are,  first  stimulant,  and  then  nar- 
cotic, according  to  the  strength  of  the  beverage.  In  moderation  tea  is  an  excel- 
lent diluent ;  it  promotes  digestion,  and  stimulates  the  renal  glands. 


The  following  decisive,  testimony  to  the  greater  healthfulness  of  tea,  as  compared 
•with  coffee  and  all  other  drinks,  from  the  highest  authority,  has  just  met  the  eye  of 
the  writer,  and  as  fully  sustaining,  in  clear  and  direct  terms,  the  opinions  he  has  ex- 
pressed in  these  papers,  he  desires  to  call  particular  attention  to  them : — 

EVIDENCE   OF    GEORGE    GABRIEL    SIGMOND,  M.    D.    BEFORE   THE    COMMITTEE    OF   THE    BRITISH 
HOUSE  OF  COMMONS  IN  1847. 

Chairman.    You  have  looked  a  good  deal  into  the  question  of  tea  ? 

I  was  consulted  by  the  East  India  Company  in  1839,  when  the  Assam  tea  was  dis- 
covered in  British  India.  At  that  period  I  read  a  lecture  before  the  Royal  Medico- 
Botanical  Society,  as  its  professor.  I  was  requested  to  publish  the  lecture,  and  that 
led  my  attention  to  the  subject  of  tea.  I  published  a  little  work,  and  rendered  it 
rather  popular. 

Mr.  Hawes.     You  think  that  the  Russian  imported  tea  is  superior  ? 

Yes. 

In  what  respect  \ 

Both  in  aroma  and  in  the  principle  upon  which  the  power  of  tea  depends,  which 
causes  its  effect  upon  the  nerves  of  sensation,  upon  which  I  think  tea  principally  acts 

What  has  been  the  result  of  the  medical  inquiries  into  the  effect  of  tea  upon  the 
human  frame  ? 

I  think  it  is  of  great  importance  in  the  prevention  of  skin  diseases,  in  comparison 
with  any  fluid  we  have  been  in  the  habit  of  drinking  in  former  years,  and  also  in  re- 
moving glandular  affections.  I  think  scrofula  has  very  much  diminished  in  this  coun- 
try since  tea  has  been  so  largely  used.  For  those  classes  of  society  who  are  not  of 
laboring  habits,  but  who  are  of  sedentary  habits,  and  exercise  the  mind  a  good  deal, 
tea  is  of  great  importance  ;  not  to  those  who  have  corporeal  labor  to  undergo,  but  to 
those  who  lead  sedentary  habits,  and  whose  nervous  system  is  much  acted  upon. 

Sir  G.  Staunton.  You  consider  that  a  considerable  increase  in  the  importations  of 
tea  would  be  favorable  to  the  healthy  condition  of  the  people  ? 

Decidedly. 

What  is  your  opinion  of  the  Assam  tea  ? 

I  am  afraid  it  will  turn  out  a  failure. 

And  also  of  the  other  tea  produced  in  the  western  part  of  India  called  Camoun  ? 

I  have  not  heard  of  that. 

Dr.  Bowring.     What  is  the  objectionable  character  of  the  Assam  tea  ? 

I  think  the  great  watchfulness  produced  by  Assam  tea  must  always  be  an  objection 
to  it. 

Chairman.     Is  the  effect  of  green  tea  sedative  ? 

In  some  cases. 

Mr.  Ewart.  Is  it  not  true  that  it  may  be  in  some  cases  sedative  and  in  other  cases 
exciting  ? 

That  depends  upon  certain  principles. 

Can  you  give  the  result  of  a  chemical  analysis  of  tea  ? 

That  is  not  in  my  department;  mine  is  rather  the  botanical  than  the  chemical  de- 
partment ;  but  the  principal  thing  is  theine,  which  answers  to  morphine. 


54  TEA!     AND     THE     TEA     TRADE. 

Is  not  there  an  admixture  of  nitrogen  in  the  composition  of  tea  ? 

Not  more  than  in  all  vegetable  substances. 

In  more  than  the  common  proportion  ? 

We  have  only  the  dried  leaf;  we  can  hardly  judge  from  that. 

Viscount  Jocelyn.     Are  the  principles  in  tea  and  coffee  similar  I 

No ;  there  is  a  principle  called  "  caffeine  "  in  coffee.  We  find  a  metallic  substance 
in  coffee,  and  in  the  greater  part  of  the  vegetable  world  there  is  a  portion  of  copper, 
and  it  exists  to  a  considerable  extent  in  coffee.  There  is  very  little  in  tea. 

Dr.  Bowring.     In  1,000  parts  of  tea  how  many  parts  of  theine  do  you  find? 

That  I  am  not  prepared  to  say,  for  it  must  vary  so  much. 

Mr.  Moffatt.     Your  impression  is,  generally,  that  tea  is  a  highly  healthful  drink  ? 

It  is  so ;  the  most  useful  drink  with  which  we  are  acquainted. 

Viscount  Jocelyn.     Which  do  you  think  is  the  greatest  stimulant,  tea  or  coffee  ? 

Coffee. 

To  the  laboring  man  who  exerts  himself  from  morning  to  night  the  greatest  stimu- 
lant would  be  coffee  ? 

Yes ;  but  it  is  the  nutritive  quality,  often,  that  I  should  look  to,  and  not  the  stimulant. 

As  far  as  regards  the  nutritive  quality,  which  should  you  say  was  the  most  nutri- 
tive, tea  or  coffee  ? 

Tea.  It  prepares  the  system  more  for  the  nutrition  to  be  derived  from  other  sub- 
stances, both  animal  and  vegetable. 

Chairman.  Have  you  had  an  opportunity  of  ascertaining  whether  there  is  much 
adulteration  of  tea  in  England  ? 

Some  few  years  ago  Professor  Gilbert  Burnett  and  myself  were  requested  by  the 
Court  of  Exchequer  to  examine  certain  leaves,  sloe  and  other  leaves,  which  it  appeared 
had  been  collected  for  the  purpose  of  adulterating  tea,  and  we  found  that  it  was  car- 
ried on  to  a  very  considerable  extent. 

Mr.  Harcourt.     Is  there  enough  of  the  copper  principle  in  coffee  to  be  unwholesome  ? 

I  think  not,  taken  hi  moderate  quantities.  I  believe  an  analysis  has  been  made.  I 
believe  it  has  been  stated  that  in  about  ten  ounces  of  coffee  there  is  found  enough  of 
copper  to  cover  two  inches  of  a  metallic  wire  of  a  piano-forte  with  copper.  Dr. 
O'Shaughnessy  made  a  series  of  experiments  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  which 
substances  had  the  most  (fopper  and  which  had  the  least,  and  the  conclusion  to  which 
he  came  was,  that  there  was  less  of  copper  in  tea  and  potatoes  than  in  any  other  veg- 
etable substance  used  as  food. 

Coffee,  although  having  no  prussic  acid  in  it,  has,  nevertheless,  the  effect  upon  some 
persons  of  keeping  them  awake  the  same  as  green  tea  ? 

Yes. 

How  do  you  account  for  that  ? 

I  did  not  ascribe  the  watchfulness  to  prussic  acid ;  I  merely  stated  that  watchful- 
ness occurs  from  the  Assam  tea  and  from  green  tea.  The  great  objection  to  the  Assam 
tea  which  I  have  found  has  been  the  watchfulness  produced  by  it. 

Mr.  Ewart.  Do  you  think  that  if  the  consumption  of  tea  were  extended  very  much- 
among  the  laboring  population  of  this  country  it  would  have  a  good  or  a  bad  effect  ? 

I  think  it  is  the  very  best  fluid  that  can  be  taken. 

For  the  laboring  population  ? 

It  does  not  give  that  tone  and  strength  which  is  derived  from  a  very  diluted  spirit- 
uous fluid  ;  but  still  it  would  enable  them  to  labor,  though  not  to  the  same  extent.  It 
is  more  desirable  for  the  manufacturing  population.  I  think  a  manufacturing  popula- 
tion cannot  do  without  it. 

You  think  that  it  corrects  some  of  the  bad  tendencies  which  the  system  of  manu- 
factures in  crowded  cities  tends  to  produce  ? 

Decidedlv. 


T  E  A  I      A  X  1)     THE     TEA      TRADE. 


POSTSCRIPT.— APRIL  27TH,  1850. 

With  reference  to  the  preface  to  the  Second  Edition,  wherein  the  writer,  under  date 
of  March  18th,  alluded  to  the  support  which  his  argument,  in  respect  to  the  question 
of  supply  and  prices,  had  received  from  the  course  of  events  and  of  the  markets ;  and 
stated  as  the  sole  necessity  to  ensure  stability  or  improvement  a  more  gradual  offering 
of  the  cargoes  then  arrived,  in  anticipation  of  the  season  of  the  greatest  demand — he 
now  has  the  satisfaction  to  offer  here  the  following  reports  upon  the  subsequent  course 
of  the  market,  as  fully  confirming  the  opinion  he  expressed  on  the  18th  of  March:  and 
with  this  he  takes  leave  of  the  subject : — 

(From  the  Commercial  List.) 

TEAS. — There  is  a  good  demand  at  private,  notwithstanding  the  frequent  auction 
sales,  and  we  note  1,000  half-chests  Young  Hyson,  chiefly  low  grade,  500  half-chests 
Twankay,  1,000  chests  and  half-chests  Hyson  Skin,  and  600  chests  and  half-chests 
Congou,  on  terms  not  transpired. — 2*1  th  March. 

TEAS. — The  market  is  much  depressed  by  numerous  arrivals  and  frequent  public 
sales,  holders  thus  evidencing  an  anxiety  to  realized ;  prices  in  consequences  have  ex- 
perienced a  decided  decline,  and  the  two  sales  of  the  week  show  a  falling  off  of  2  a  5 
cents  on  Oolong  and  Congou,  1  a  3  on  Young  Hyson,  and  2  a  3  on  good  Hyson  Skin 
and  common  Gunpowder  and  Imperial.  Hyson  and  common  Hyson  Skin  are  without 
particular  change.  Three  public  sales  are  announced  for  next  week. — 6th  April. 

TEAS. — Notwithstanding  the  numerous  public  sales  (three  last  and  three  this  week) 
there  is  a  steady  fair  demand  from  the  trade,  and  full  auction  rates  are  realized.  The 
sales  include  500  half-chests  Young  Hyson,  1,200  chest  and  half-chests  and  800  boxes 
Ningyong  and  Oolong,  on  private  terms,  200  half-chests  Hyson  Skin,  23  cents,  and 
1,500  a  2,000  half-chests  Canton  Young  Hyson,  for  Canada,  9  a  11|,  6  months. — 17^ 
April. 

TEAS. — At  the  two  public  sales,  Wednesday  and  Thursday,  most  of  that  offered  was 
disposed  of,  without  particular  change  in  prices,  except  for  the  good  and  better  grades 
Young  Hyson  and  Congou,  upon  which  a  decided  improvement  was  established,  and 
the  market  generally,  owing  to  the  firmness  of  holders  and  an  improved  country  trade, 
stands  rather  higher  than  at  the  close  of  last  week.  At  private,  we  note  sale  of  1,000' 
chests  Congou  at  full  prices.  The  cargo  of  the  "  Tsar  "  will  be  offered  at  auction  this 
morning. — 20th  April. 

TEAS. — The  public  sales  of  Saturday  and  yesterday  went  off  with  good  spirit,  show- 
ing a  firm  market  generally,  and  some  improvement  in  prices  of  Ningyong,  Oolong, 
and  Congou.  At  private,  500  hglf-chests  cargo  Young  Hyson,  sold  at  26 }  a  27  cents;, 
and  600  half  chests  Canton-made,  on  terms  we  did  not  learn.  The  "Talbot's"  cargo 
was  sold  at  the  new  "  Wall-street  Sales-room,"  which,  we  understand,  has  given  general 
satisfaction,  and  is  pronounced  by  some  to  be  the  best  sales-room  in  the  city. — 24th 
April. 

TEAS. — The  public  sales  this  week  were  well  attended,  and  prices  upon  the  whole 
have  an  upward  tendency. — 27/A.  April. 

The  following  from  an  English  Prices  Current  by  the  last  mail  from  China  will  be 
seen  to  confirm  the  previous  anticipatory  statements  : — 

CANTON,  JANUARY  28m 

EXPORTS. — TEAS. — Early  in  the  month  an  active  demand  prevailed  for  the  American 
market,  and  considerable  quantities  were  settled ;  but  the  wants  of  the  shippers  being 
supplied,  and  the  large  holders  among  the  teamen  demanding  high  prices,  purchasers 
were  checked,  and  latterly  little  has  been  made.  Fine  Hysons  and  Gunpowder  are 


5(5  TEA  *.     AND     THE     TE  A     TRADE 


inquired  after  for  the  English  market,  but  the  small  stock  and  high  prices  prevent 
large  transactions.  In  blacks  the  business  done  has  been  trifling,  and  there  is  every 
probability  of  the  export  of  Congou  to  England  falling  considerably  short  of  the  year's 
consumption. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 

Return  to  desk  from  which  borrowed. 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


APR    -22  ig^REC'D  LD 

JULE71961 


REC'D  LD 

FEB4  '65 -KM 


LD  21-100m-9,'47(A5702sl6)476 


YC  26060 


M180784 


. 
THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  'CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


